Combines guidance system

[Ham]

yes, Ive used it, but not in a harvester. I have it in a Deere 9200 which we've just traded, and its to be swapped to the replacement. Got a friend down here who has installed it in his NH during this current harvest. His early comment was "it's good", but I havent followed up what his later feelings are. Email me and I'l put you in touch with him, but i know harvest is still happening there, and he is temporarily off the air email wise. Ham in (South ) Australia

 

[little_guy]

Mr. Ham, Curious as to the state of the wheat crop in your part of the world.

 

[Ham]

no "mister".. just plain Ham please... in my part of the world its just about all harvested. I completed mine last friday, but theres still a few going yet. Yields were above average, but quality down due to fungal staining brought about by untimely rain just before and during harvest. What else would you like to know..IJ Ham in Australia

 

[little_guy]

Thanks Ham, Do you grow other crops than wheat, and if so, is wheat getting to be the least profitable, with less acres being planted every year, as is the case here. Thanks for the come back little guy

 

[Bundy]

Southern parts of Australia usually only grow "winter" crops ie cereals, legumes, medics. Due to the rainfall cycle, and soil types. They recieve most of thier rain in winter, spring period and very little during the summer. The soil has a high sand component, particularly Western Australia and parts of South Australia, and therefore rely highly on incrop rain to get through a season. In Northern area's ( Northern Central NSW up to Central Qld) Rainfall patterns change and there is suppose to be more rain in summer and less in winter. So crops like sorghum, corn, sunflowers, cotton, mungbeans etc become an option as well as the winter crops. Also soil improves and has increased water holding capacity so we don't need planting_incrop rain as much... just some rain so we can fill our soil profile. Now all that said about the rainfall pattern are what "used" to happen, the way the weather patterns have gone to the pack now, who knows when it will rain... if at all

 

[ham]

To understand my answer to that, you also need to have some knowledge of what my particular version of reality is. This area is semi-desert, sandy and rocky soils with an annual average rainfall of 280 mm, or about 11 inches. The dryland farmers predominantly grow cereals ..being wheat , barley and triticale, as well as a few playing with canola. I include myself in that few, but like nearly everybody else, without a high rate of success. A break -even crop of canola equates to wild success, and the benefits are in its rotational uses. There ARE some other crops grown close to me by those with access to irrigation water from the Murray river, but that is an over exploited resource with no more new licenses allowed, and the costs of pumping any distance get pretty serious. Those crops are mostly potatoes and onions and grapes. I know for a fact that the irrigation boys have been hurting pretty seriously in the last few years as well. So the options available to dryland farmers are extremely limited, and for that reason i see little change in the areas planted to cereals. Most farmers here run some sheep as well, but wool, which at one stage in the past was the economic backbone, is severely depressed and my personal opinion is it is unlikely to ever return to anything approaching its former significance. However, just as you have observed, the economics of grain farming also are not exactly filled with joy. I don't know where you are, or from what perspective you see things, but it may or may not surprise you to learn that our grain prices are set pretty much in Chicago. Australia is in the rather unique position that in terms of total world grain PRODUCTION we are close to insignificant, but because we export some 70-80% of what we do grow, then in terms of world grain TRADE, we are quite a major player. And this of course without the benefit of govt. subsidies. We are a large country but a small nation, and very much at the mercy of world markets, which has not been a comfortable place to be in recent times. Thanks for your interest, and i hope I've answered your questions. Ham

 

[wheatthresher]

We could sure use some rain here in SW OK also. Getting pretty dry here.