Cropping: Quambatook farmer not afraid of trying new things

Mixed cropper Kyle Pearse isn’t afraid of trying new approaches to growing, despite not always getting it right. See what he’s trialling this season.

Mixed cropping farmer Kyle Pearse isn’t afraid of trying new things.

He trials new practices each year with the aim of finding the best ones for his crops, and isn’t afraid of making mistakes as he goes along.

Teghan and Kyle Pearse with their kids: 5yo Jack, 2yo Ted and 10 month old Charlie and their Kelpie, Bel. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I like to have a few failures every year, otherwise I don’t think I’m trying enough new things,” he said.

This year, Mr Pearse is trialling a 70ha mixed paddock of faba beans and canola.

“I’m not content with our current best practice grain production. There’s got to be better ways to do it and I’m open to exploring new ideas,” he said.

The idea behind the mixed paddock is that “different root systems promote different soil biology. By growing more than one thing in a paddock at the same time, they can collaborate to produce more than they would on their own,” he said.

Kyle Pearse with his family. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mr Pearse, who grows vetch, canola, wheat, faba beans, lentils and barley across 2400ha over two properties in Donald and Quambatook, will also be continuing the second year of a trial adding liquid micronutrients to his soil at seeding.

“It’s about growing a stronger root system that is less susceptible to things like heat stress and frost and dry spells,” he said.

Last year the season yielded “exceptional results” that included a 5.5 tonne/ha wheat crop and a 5 tonne/ha barley crop, and Mr Pearse hopes to replicate that this year.

So far, the start to the season has been “perfect”, he said. “We couldn’t ask for much more.”

His two properties recorded between 40mm to 50mm of rain this month, which means he is “sowing into good moisture”.