Clearfield^® holds up in WA drought

Australia, Tuesday 9 November, 2010-Despite a very tough season in Western Australia, one farmer has been delighted with his first foray into Clearfield^® Canola.

Rick Swarbrick and son Mike farm 1600 hectares at Gairdner, about 50km south-east of Jerramungup.

They entered the Clearfield Canola Challenge to compare the local gross margins of Clearfield and Triazine Tolerant (TT) canola in WA.

The Swarbrick’s Challenge was between Pioneer Clearfield 45Y82 and the TT Tawriffic, each planted on a minimum 12 ha’s by the grower. 

The Clearfield area yielded 1.49 tonnes per hectare with an oil content of 42.4 percent.  This compares with Tawriffic, which yielded only 0.951 tonnes per hectare with an oil content of 39.3 percent.

The result was achieved despite very dry conditions, with just 276mm falling during the growing season, very little rain after September and some scorching temperatures in October.

Factoring in a $550 a tonne farm gate price (and adjusting for oil bonus and discount) the 45Y82 returned a massive $322 per hectare gross margin more than the Tawriffic.

 “I was pretty impressed. The Clearfield definitely out-yielded the TTs,” Rick said.

 “This is my first year of growing Clearfield canola. We’ve grown Clearfield STL wheat and are big fans of the great weed control,” he said.

 Intervix, the herbicide at the heart of BASF’s Clearfield canola technology has strong foliar uptake and residual properties. “The Intervix did a good job on the radish,” Rick said.

Rick sowed the trial paddock on May 21, a little later than he would have liked.

He then applied Intervix on June 29 and likes the one pass application benefit as it optimises the limited effective spray days during this period.

He sowed the canola at a rate of 2.3 kilograms per hectare using a wetter and had excellent germination.

The Swarbricks had even better results from Clearfield 46Y82 and 46Y78 hybrids they sowed elsewhere on the farm, achieving yields of up to two tonnes per hectare and oil content up to 44% on the 46Y78.

Next season Rick and Mike intend to sow Clearfield canola into pasture paddocks in April.

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