Hi, I’m Clarke Schober, a fourth-generation farmer. I work alongside my parents and brother on our family farm, located in the northern Mallee, northwest of Loxton, with another cropping property near Karoonda in the Murraylands region. Recently, we’ve diversified our operations to include a 40-hectare irrigated almond orchard at Loxton.
We manage 7,200 hectares of ‘sand over loam’ soils and large sandy hills, where we grow a variety of crops including wheat, barley, chickpeas, canola, peas, lentils, and lupins.
This season has been challenging. After a very late and minimal break on May 31, most of our program was dry-sown. Since then, we’ve received just enough rain for the crops to look good, although they are still behind where I would like them to be. We’re hoping for a favourable spring to bring them to average yields. Due to the dry conditions, disease and weed pressure has been low.
Overall, I’m very impressed with how the crops look, given that we’ve only had 70mm of Growing Season Rainfall (GSR). The average rainfall over the last 10 years at the property northwest of Loxton is 220mm.
We are currently wrapping up our crop spraying and beginning to monitor for grubs and pests in pulses and canola as flowering is underway. Harvesters are being serviced and prepared for the upcoming harvest. Almonds are nearing the end of their flowering stage, so our focus is on spraying and nutrition. Additionally, we are keeping a close eye on our crops for any other potential issues.
In our low rainfall area, managing the rising costs of chemicals and fertilizers is increasingly challenging. This is especially true for summer weeds like feathertop grass and fleabane, which now require double-knocking, and for resistant ryegrass in crops. The cost per hectare quickly adds up with pre-emergent treatments, and balancing this with fertilizer demands is tricky. We want to avoid missing out on a rare, above-average year like 2022, while also not wasting money on a below-average year.
I am hopeful that the use of camera spraying technology to help reduce chemical costs will bring significant improvements in the coming years. We have been using brown-on-green technology for some time and are closely monitoring advancements in green-on-green technology as it becomes more effective and affordable. Research and trials aimed at improving our underperforming soils are proving to be highly beneficial for our farm, and we continue to observe and implement the outcomes of these trials.
I’m proud to be an Aussie farmer because I help feed our country while working to improve our land and environment with sustainable practices. My work connects me to the land and supports my family, giving them a way of life that aligns with our values. It’s rewarding to know that what I do helps the agriculture industry and preserves our land for future generations.