Fallow feedback

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By Dwain Duxson

Fallow feedback - We love it when people give us feedback and challenge some of the things we write about in this "daily" Newsletter. I reckon the first two rules in Farming are 1) no two Farms are the same, and 2) no two Farmers do things the same. So, we are bound to get challenged on things.

Yesterday, we wrote how people rarely use long Fallow anymore when it was a commonly used practice 40 or so years ago. 

Matt from the Wimmera still uses Fallow with his rotations. For him, it's 25% long Fallow (of his rotation) using Chemical/Brown Manure. Matt said, "It's an important part of our rotation. It reduces our reliance on synthetic Fertilisers and gives us full weed control, which means faster reduction in Seed banks. And then there is the extra moisture conserved. It also helps logistically. We are Cropping, Spraying, and Harvesting less, which means the money Crop operations get done on time without compromise. I have found, especially in drier years, over a 3+ multi-year rotation profit, it has included a fallow! The last couple of years have challenged that though, with extra rainfall and lentils in the mix, but we will stick with it".

He also added, "we've had a neighbour tell us they can't afford to leave Paddocks out, and we told them we can't afford not to". You have to love the diversity in Farming. It keeps things interesting. 

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