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Increased efficiency, reliability and lower maintenance costs are just some of the reasons why the Baker family at Kadina (SA) has invested in a Challenger harvester and baler for their cropping and hay contracting operations. After extensive research on the machinery market last year, Keith Baker and his father Bronte became the first farmers in South Australia to buy a new Challenger 670 (Class 7) harvester. They also bought a Challenger LB44 hay baler. The Baker family crops about 1,400 hectares, sowing wheat, feed barley, oaten hay, lentils, peas and canola. They own about 283 ha and share-farm and lease the remainder of their cropping country. The father and son team has also established a successful hay contracting business, annually baling about 10,000 large square bales for clients on the Yorke Peninsula and at Clare in the Mid North. They also contract harvest their neighbour’s legume crops. “Our contracting business certainly complements the share-farming and has provided us with some income security, especially during the past couple of drier years,” Keith said. Timeliness is vital in the Baker’s export hay contracting operation, which is why Keith decided to upgrade their baling equipment to include the new Challenger LB44 hay baler which he said has significantly increased their baling efficiency. “The main reason we bought a new baler was to reduce breakdowns and have a reliable machine. We’ve been really happy with the performance of the baler – normally you’ll have a few teething problems with a new machine but we’ve had a dream run,” Keith said. Keith is a trained mechanic and regularly services all their own equipment which has saved on significant repair and maintenance costs. “One of the features I like on the baler is the autolube system which means I don’t have to stop and grease while I’m baling which saves time for us and our clients.” The Baker family also decided the new Challenger 670 harvester – a 340 horsepower model with a 50 hp power bulge for use when unloading grain – would suit their cropping operation. “The main attraction of the harvester was its simplicity, it is run by a rotor and has hydraulic drive so it is a low maintenance machine with less moving parts,” Keith said. Both Keith and Bronte agree that the upgrade to the larger harvester
has had a significant impact on their harvesting capacity and operator
comfort. “We’ve also been very impressed with the backup service provided by Agco, they were a great support during our first harvest with the header.” The harvester is equipped with a 36 foot Challenger DH36 front and a chopper and chaff spreader which spreads the straw more evenly in the paddock, making it easier for direct drilling at sowing time. “The investment in the Challenger machinery has been worthwhile and it also lets our clients know we have good quality, reliable machinery to do the job which keeps them satisfied as well,” Keith said The Bakers try to maintain a flexible crop rotation, aimed at controlling the threat of weeds. The three-year rotation comprises wheat, followed by barley and then a legume or oaten hay crop. They generally aim to sow about 480 ha of wheat, 400 ha of barley, 215 ha of oats and 305 ha of legumes. “Depending on the season and the paddock, we might have two years of break crops to clean the paddock up properly,” Keith said. The first step in sowing preparation starts during summer when sheep are purchased to run in the stubble paddocks and clean up any grain left on the ground. Each paddock is then slashed after the sheep have grazed it. Keith said generally a pre-sowing spray is not necessary unless
summer In the past few years, the Baker’s have completely switched to direct drilling which they said has significantly reduced their costs and increased their sowing efficiency, with less fuel and wear and tear on machinery. All the seeding is performed using an airseeder with two-inch points attached. Keith aims for an accurate sowing depth of between 40-50mm for the cereals and a little deeper for the legume crops. A rate of between 80-120 kilograms per ha of 24:16 fertiliser is also applied. The chemical program includes a pre-emergent application of Treflan,
at a rate of about 1.2 litres/ha on the paddocks sown to wheat and
barley while the legumes receive up to 1.6 L/ha. If necessary, 1
L/ha of Roundup is applied Keith said the paddocks reserved for oaten hay crops receive different treatment. A Wallaroo and Potteroo variety mix is sown at a rate of 130 kg/ha and the oaten hay also receives a super-phosphate fertiliser application at seeding. A mix of Diuron and Dual chemicals are then applied immediately after sowing each at about 1L/ha. “This chemical application generally means we don’t need to go back into the paddock at a later date to control any weeds,’’ he said. The Baker family carries out regular soil tests and deep soil nitrogen tests to check for diseases and the soil nitrogen level which assists with their crop nutrition decisions. Clare-based agronomist and consultant Mick Faulkner provides regular advice and helps Keith and Bronte set up the annual fertiliser and chemical programs. “We have been keeping records for the past 20 years which
are now all done on the PAM computer program. This means we can
have a look at the previous year to help with our current crop and
chemical rotations,’’ He said, based on the soil tests and past experience, the cereal crops may also receive a nutrition boost of 30-50 kg/ha of urea during spring. The hay is cut with a mower conditioner when it reaches the milky stage in the head. The Baker’s then wait two days before using a super conditioner which Bronte said can speed up the drying process by about 10 days. The hay must be baled under 14 per cent moisture so the Baker’s generally wait at least five days before the baling is performed. To reduce the threat of weather damage, the hay is carted directly to the processor or into a shed for storage. The oaten hay is marketed to either SP Hay or Yorke Hay, both on the Yorke Peninsula. Generally, the harvest has started before the hay contracting is
completed so Keith then makes the switch to harvesting, while Bronte
remains on the baler. Keith uses a combination of marketing tools including selling the grain directly to the pool and forward contracts. He keeps an eye on prices being offered for contracts leading up to the current sowing year and depending on the price will forward sell part of the expected crop. The Baker’s also forward sell their durum wheat to San Remo.
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