Crop sequence calculator helps navigate markets and climate

Mr Seymour says growers should familiarise
themselves with the tool so they could use it before
next year’s seeding program. Image: Helen Flamme

WA grain growers now have access to an online tool to help them make better crop rotation decisions in order to maximise their profits.

The WA Crop Sequence Calculator, developed by researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Food WA’s Grain Agronomy Project, enables farmers to evaluate planting options using data from the four-year Katanning Crop Sequence Trials.

Growers are able to compare rotation choices with the experimental data to create the best combination of crops for their next program.

The tool also allows users to compare gross margins for three-year crop sequences.

Researcher Mark Seymour says the online tool enabled farmers to make crucial crop rotation decisions during a period of “climate variability and fluctuating markets”.

“It’s just an easy tool that farmers can do on the back of an envelope,” he says.

“It gives them a starting point and allows them to plan ahead and think [of different options].”

Mr Seymour says growers can use the information from the calculator to “optimise their profitability by examining the yield potential for a specific combination of plantings in relations to grain prices”.

“Nowadays growers are more market savvy and are inclined to target particular crops to improve gross margins, rather than stick to traditional crop rotations,” he says.

Once growers have selected the grain type, the calculator automatically provides the grain yields, costs and returns obtained from the Katanning trials.

Users can then enter their own information based on their experiences which will update the gross margin.

“There is a three-year scenario where users input their crop sequence, yield, price and costs, from which the calculator determines the gross margin over that period,” Mr Seymour says.

“You can use it with all types of grain but it is focused on wheat.”

The calculator is based loosely on a similar tool produced in North Dakota.

Further data from similar trials at Wongan Hills will be incorporated later in the season.

Mr Seymour says growers should familiarise themselves with the tool so they could use it before next year’s seeding program.

He says DAFWA was working on further developing the calculator to enable it produce more targeted results.

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