Mr Schneider farms at Warrawillah, Culcairn.
Harvested on December 21, 2021, Mr Schneider achieved his hyper yielding crop of 8.87 tonne/ha off 44ha of the wheat variety Rockstar, which was just enough for him to earn the HYC award for highest yield in the NSW/northern Victoria region.
The same crop also saw Mr Schneider be presented with the second HYC award, which was for highest per cent of yield potential in this competition.
The crop was sown on May 8, 2021, into a loamy sand soil, following canola, with a single disc seed drill.
Despite very low rainfall in April, which caused delays and staggered germination, the above average winter rainfall in the region meant the crops were able to progress with no excess water in the winter months to cause waterlogging issues.
The average July and below average August also allowed good conditions for applications of herbicides, fungicides and fertiliser.
Inputs included several applications of nitrogen-based fertiliser throughout the growing season with carefully considered and strategic timings for fungicide and herbicide applications.
Harvesting conditions for the award paddocks in southern NSW were wet.
This caused delayed harvest in some cases and downgrading of some canola, wheat and barley crops. Some paddocks where flooded, with crops not harvested until six to eight weeks after the optimum period.
Despite this challenging harvest, the season has widely been considered as the best ever in the region.
Field Applied Research Australia’s Nick Poole said the HYC initiative, now in its second year, inspired others to push crop yield boundaries in their region.
“On behalf of the HYC project team I would like to congratulate Damien for achieving this award-winning wheat yield, and for the second year running choosing to be involved in a community that is networked by their interest to increase productivity and profitability,” Mr Poole said.
“I would also like to add my thanks to all the growers who entered the HYC awards in the 2021 season.”
A six-week national roadshow is under way to recognise innovative cropping farmers who have achieved some of the highest yielding wheat crops across the high rainfall zones of Australia.
For further information on the Hyper Yielding Crops project, visit: https://faraustralia.com.au/hyper-yielding-crops/
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