THE Dorey family of Broadwater call themselves “coastal” farmers for a very good reason: their eastern boundary is the Pacific Ocean.
To their immediate west is the Richmond River and in between lies rich alluvial soil that grows sugar cane, soybeans … and now high moisture corn for the feedlot industry.
This year, for the second season, Owen and his son Steve and his brother John planted Pioneer variety 1756 and just last week harvested an excellent crop at a rate of 12.5 tonnes/ha returning $290/tonne delivered to Whyalla Beef feedlot at Texas, Qld.
Returns to growers will fluctuate in future as corn is tied to wheat prices.
The Doreys planted in mid-September and experienced the wettest November since they started collecting records in 1963. The unusual amount of early summer rain tested their drainage and threatened early growth. The end result is evidence of their good management.
High Moisture corn is an exciting new market opportunity, with Wyallah Beef ramping up their program to the point that this year they will purchase double that of last season – between 30-40,000 tonnes – which will be stored in pits.
According to Whyalla Beef feedlot manager Gino De Stefani, the five year trial program using corn silage in feedlot grain rations as an alternative to sorghum proved so successful that the company planned to create a primary brand of beef around that feed.
Mr De Stefani said that a percentage of high moisture corn would be added to rations depending on cost of wheat and barley.
“Corn is a good product that we purchase at moisture range 28-35% before processing it and storing it in pits similar to silage,” he explained.
High moisture corn isn’t new to the Australian feedlot industry but Whyallah’s increased interest has created market opportunity for growers at Tabulam, Urbenville and Casino, who have also planted high moisture corn this summer season – one that has been widely regarded as one of the best on record.
But agronomist Zac Geldof from BGA Casino tipped his hat to the Dorey family, for their superb skills in producing this crop.
“The Doreys are excellent crop managers,” explained Mr Geldoff, who, with his supervisor Dom Hogg, advised the Doreys on their corn.
The key to getting it right is to harvest at correct moisture, when it is at ‘black layer’ because BGA agronomists – who are spearheading the current North coast trend - are finding that moisture content falls rapidly from that point.
The main advantage to the grower is that high moisture corn is harvested two months earlier than gritting corn, which allows farmers back on their country sooner.
The earlier harvest also reduces insect and disease pressure, and allows growers to control weeds before they set seed.
In the Doreys’ case their paddock will remain fallow until they plant cane in the spring, but with the wet season now imminent, it gives them satisfaction to see their crop off before the coastal rains start in earnest.
