Young farmer plants 50 000 dryland maize per ha
Agriculture should strive to modernise
Innovation and calculated risks can make crop farming more lucrative in Namibia, says an enthusiastic young dryland maize farmer from Grootfontein.
A young dryland maize farmer believes that more young people may enter the industry if cooperatives issue production loans, while Namibian agriculture should strive to modernise.
“Something like this will give young farmers a chance and motivate them to start planting, says the 25-year-old Paul Potgieter, who planted 330 hectares of dryland maize on the farm Fairview this year. However, he, his brother Jannie and their father Paul (Senior) do things somewhat differently on the northern farm, because on their fields there are 50 000 maize plants per hectare.
"In Namibia, farmers plant an average of 20 000 to 28 000 maize per hectare on dry land, while pivot farmers do not like to go higher than a plant population of 50 000. They usually plant between 42 000 and 52 000 maize per hectare," explains Potgieter .
However, the Potgieters took a "calculated chance" by testing such a high maize stand on dry land.
It has a high loam and peat soil, which retains moisture very well.
"We tested the soil moisture by digging test holes shortly after harvest time - in the winter months or in August or October. Our moisture levels were still very high due to last year's heavy rains.”
Potgieter says that this is largely the reason why they decided to plant 50 000 plants per hectare. They plan to test the soil moisture again this year after harvest time and base their decision on the coming season on it. "I think every year my plant stand will therefore differ," he says.
Fairview had 1 100 mm of rain last year, which led to many of their maize plants drowning - precisely because the soil holds the water very well.
"We have decided to make our plant stand much higher so that we can utilise the water. Otherwise there is too much water that just runs away.”
Potgieter says with last year's heavy rains, the patches on their lands that have sandy soil did much better. On the other hand, the parts with peat and loam soil held too much water and became waterlogged.
"There were 40 hectares that we did not even harvest, because it completely drowned," he says.
They also apply no-till methods to their maize fields. "There are many theories about it - whether it works or not. In my opinion, it works very well, because that way you protect your soil and surface.”
He also believes that the more environmentally friendly no-till method goes hand in hand with the use of GMO maize - something that, according to the law, cannot be planted in Namibia.
"It is about cost savings. With your regular corn, your poison bill is much higher. If the government could give us the green light for GMOs, I think many more farmers would have the courage to start planting. Your cost savings are so much more because you do not have to spray for worms, for example.”
HARVEST EXPECTATIONS
Potgieter says they have already started planting maize on 29 November, because by then they had already received between 80 mm and 100 mm of rain. "Our soil moisture was ready by then," he said.
He says they were very happy that the rain followed very nicely and conditions for the maize this year were actually "perfect".
He says it is very difficult to talk about crop expectations ahead of time. "My father always has a saying: We will know when the harvester walks.
"So far, however, it looks very good. We fertilised for 5 tonnes per hectare. I expect a minimum of 5 tonnes, but so far it looks better. I estimate we will collect a minimum of 6 to 6 and a half tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Potgieter says on his plant stand and input costs, he breaks even at 2.1 tonnes per hectare. "Everything above that is your profit," he said. However, Potgieter says if the government can give arable farmers the green light to plant GMOs, they can lower their break-even point and improve their profits.
THE RIGHT FARM
Fairview is located about 120 km northeast of Tsumeb and 100 km north of Grootfontein.
"The water here is 3 metres. Here is strong water. We talked and me and my dad and brother decided this was the best farm for us. We thought we could do good diversification here - game, cattle and crop farming,” says Potgieter.
He says they initially started cattle farming on the farm and are making optimal use of the farm's carrying capacity by doing deforestation.
Currently, their carrying capacity is about one head of cattle per 8 hectares. They also have game, but mostly focus on the local market. This is already their fourth year at Fairview.
TECHNOLOGY
Potgieter worked in America on a farm where they planted cotton, maize, soybeans and rice and saw how technology can be used in agriculture.
"I learned a lot of things there. So, we also decided from the beginning that we were going to do it right and buy the right equipment and technology.”
He believes it is inevitable that the agricultural industry will have to make better use of technology, because it will ultimately eliminate a number of costs.
Potgieter's plan is to finally switch completely to precision farming. "That way you save so much on small things. If you can save the small expenses, this is finally what will make or break you.”
However, he says it is expensive to buy all the technology needed for precision farming.
He also plans to set up pivot points within the next five years. "We want to plant two types of crops - maize in the maize season and wheat in the winter - so that you can have two crops."
They are also considering planting crops such as sugar beans along with the maize. "This is a very good diversification, because your sugar beans need much less water. About 350 mm or 400 mm of rain is enough.”
Potgieter says it can help in the drier years, when there is not enough rain for the maize and the sugar beans can help you through.
“Something like this will give young farmers a chance and motivate them to start planting, says the 25-year-old Paul Potgieter, who planted 330 hectares of dryland maize on the farm Fairview this year. However, he, his brother Jannie and their father Paul (Senior) do things somewhat differently on the northern farm, because on their fields there are 50 000 maize plants per hectare.
"In Namibia, farmers plant an average of 20 000 to 28 000 maize per hectare on dry land, while pivot farmers do not like to go higher than a plant population of 50 000. They usually plant between 42 000 and 52 000 maize per hectare," explains Potgieter .
However, the Potgieters took a "calculated chance" by testing such a high maize stand on dry land.
It has a high loam and peat soil, which retains moisture very well.
"We tested the soil moisture by digging test holes shortly after harvest time - in the winter months or in August or October. Our moisture levels were still very high due to last year's heavy rains.”
Potgieter says that this is largely the reason why they decided to plant 50 000 plants per hectare. They plan to test the soil moisture again this year after harvest time and base their decision on the coming season on it. "I think every year my plant stand will therefore differ," he says.
Fairview had 1 100 mm of rain last year, which led to many of their maize plants drowning - precisely because the soil holds the water very well.
"We have decided to make our plant stand much higher so that we can utilise the water. Otherwise there is too much water that just runs away.”
Potgieter says with last year's heavy rains, the patches on their lands that have sandy soil did much better. On the other hand, the parts with peat and loam soil held too much water and became waterlogged.
"There were 40 hectares that we did not even harvest, because it completely drowned," he says.
They also apply no-till methods to their maize fields. "There are many theories about it - whether it works or not. In my opinion, it works very well, because that way you protect your soil and surface.”
He also believes that the more environmentally friendly no-till method goes hand in hand with the use of GMO maize - something that, according to the law, cannot be planted in Namibia.
"It is about cost savings. With your regular corn, your poison bill is much higher. If the government could give us the green light for GMOs, I think many more farmers would have the courage to start planting. Your cost savings are so much more because you do not have to spray for worms, for example.”
HARVEST EXPECTATIONS
Potgieter says they have already started planting maize on 29 November, because by then they had already received between 80 mm and 100 mm of rain. "Our soil moisture was ready by then," he said.
He says they were very happy that the rain followed very nicely and conditions for the maize this year were actually "perfect".
He says it is very difficult to talk about crop expectations ahead of time. "My father always has a saying: We will know when the harvester walks.
"So far, however, it looks very good. We fertilised for 5 tonnes per hectare. I expect a minimum of 5 tonnes, but so far it looks better. I estimate we will collect a minimum of 6 to 6 and a half tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Potgieter says on his plant stand and input costs, he breaks even at 2.1 tonnes per hectare. "Everything above that is your profit," he said. However, Potgieter says if the government can give arable farmers the green light to plant GMOs, they can lower their break-even point and improve their profits.
THE RIGHT FARM
Fairview is located about 120 km northeast of Tsumeb and 100 km north of Grootfontein.
"The water here is 3 metres. Here is strong water. We talked and me and my dad and brother decided this was the best farm for us. We thought we could do good diversification here - game, cattle and crop farming,” says Potgieter.
He says they initially started cattle farming on the farm and are making optimal use of the farm's carrying capacity by doing deforestation.
Currently, their carrying capacity is about one head of cattle per 8 hectares. They also have game, but mostly focus on the local market. This is already their fourth year at Fairview.
TECHNOLOGY
Potgieter worked in America on a farm where they planted cotton, maize, soybeans and rice and saw how technology can be used in agriculture.
"I learned a lot of things there. So, we also decided from the beginning that we were going to do it right and buy the right equipment and technology.”
He believes it is inevitable that the agricultural industry will have to make better use of technology, because it will ultimately eliminate a number of costs.
Potgieter's plan is to finally switch completely to precision farming. "That way you save so much on small things. If you can save the small expenses, this is finally what will make or break you.”
However, he says it is expensive to buy all the technology needed for precision farming.
He also plans to set up pivot points within the next five years. "We want to plant two types of crops - maize in the maize season and wheat in the winter - so that you can have two crops."
They are also considering planting crops such as sugar beans along with the maize. "This is a very good diversification, because your sugar beans need much less water. About 350 mm or 400 mm of rain is enough.”
Potgieter says it can help in the drier years, when there is not enough rain for the maize and the sugar beans can help you through.
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