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World’s best wheat

Breaking a world record – not only once, but twice – is no easy feat, and a Mid Canterbury grower says he could not have achieved it without irrigation.

Eric and Maxine Watson farm at Wakanui just out of Ashburton, a 490-hectare fully arable farm which is 97 percent irrigated.

“Irrigation is crucial to running our business – the seasons change so much year to year.”

In 2017 they broke the Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield with 16.791 tonnes per hectare. Now, three years later, they have surpassed this with a crop yielding 17.398 tonnes per hectare. On average irrigated wheat in New Zealand yields about 12 tonnes per hectare.

The Kerrin wheat, a feed variey, was sown in April 2019, and harvested on February 17 this year (the record recognition was delayed due to COVID-19).

Mr and Mrs Watson have farmed at ‘Rangitata Holdings’, Wakanui, Ashburton for 27 years, having previously farmed at Ealing, on the north bank of the Rangitata River.

Hence, Mr Watson has been growing food for a very long time: he says it is like “having an extra-large vege garden.” Alongside wheat this year they grew a variety of grasses for seed, also chicory, plantain, spinach, radish, pak choi and faba beans.

Decisions about which crops to grow are based around paddock history, national and international markets and financial return. Wheat usually makes up about one-third of the total farm area.

Last season a great growing season, with warm days, cool nights, and high sunshine hours, but it was also thanks to their reliable irrigation system, which was an integral part of breaking the record.

“We couldn’t grow the wheat to this extent or farm without irrigation, we’d be very restricted in the crops we could grow – overseas buyers don’t like crop failures.”

The farm has a linear irrigation system which is supplied from four wells on the property with VRI (variable rate irrigation) on seven of the nine irrigators for maximum efficiency and accuracy of water application.

Eric and Maxine Watson at their farm in Wakanui, Ashburton.

Irrigating Triticale in 2006.

Neutron probes are an essential tool, (read weekly, to determine soil moisture levels, the amount of water the crop is using, and how far away the crop is from stress point).

“We have probes in every paddock: wheat like any plant needs water at the right time and too much or not enough can have a detrimental impact.”

Following the 2017 record Mr Watson changed from granular nitrogen application to liquid nitrogen, after observing considerable stripping across the crops. He said this had been a significant factor in increasing their yield.

“The liquid N is applied through the sprayer – it’s very even in distribution, more efficient and you are more flexible as to when you can put it on.”

Mr Watson said throughout his time farming he had witnessed a big shift in the technology and information available.

“The agronomical knowledge available now is amazing – people put so much work into trials and analysis.”

Mr Watson said the idea to try and break the record came from his son, Philip, who said he would shout his dad a magnum of champagne if he got it.

“The record attempt begins before sowing with the area being surveyed, it’s monitored throughout the growing season and on the day the process has to be continuously videoed with every load run over a certified weight bridge. It does cost to enter and it’s really beyond an individual to manage it – we are very grateful for the support we have had from the Bayer team, especially our agronomists and other agricultural consultants throughout it.”

Mrs Watson is not much involved on the machinery side of things, but takes care of the paperwork and financial matters, recently completing the property’s farm environment plan and overseer budget herself.

Mrs Watson said compliance was intensifying and has changed drastically in the couple’s time farming, “it’s important we do these things, it’s all part of being a farmer these days.”

The pair love the land, and both love growing things and agree “we get a lot of pleasure out of growing a good crop.”

“If you don’t look after your soils, you’re not going to grow a good crop it’s the most important thing for us – the soils are so important and making sure we’re not wasting resources.”

Of his involvement in farming Mr Watson said, “I could never see myself doing anything else.”

“The best thing (and I’m sure it’s the best thing for most cropping farmers) is sitting in the header at harvest time and knowing all your work has paid off.”

When asked if he thought he would try and beat his own record Mr Watson said he would “just have to wait and see.”

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A passion for sports and turf – hand in hand

Looking after the field that sits beneath the roof of the only fully covered natural turf stadium in the world comes with its challenges, but having irrigation helps get it ready for game day.

Forsyth Barr Stadium turf manager, Michael Watson, doing what he does best.

Michael Watson is the Turf Manager at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, Otago. He first began looking after the field at the stadium in 2014, but his love for turf management started many years before that.

Mr Watson grew up in Dunedin and at the age of 13 did a day’s work experience for a local golf club as part of his school’s workday.

“Being a 13-year-old and driving around on lawnmowers all day seemed like a pretty cool job … I was hooked.”

He then went on to volunteer at the golf club and then got some casual work after school.

He soon had a pretty good understanding of what the role entailed and took on a three-and-a-half-year apprenticeship as a groundsman at Balmacewan Golf Club, in Dunedin.

During his apprenticeship, he also took on some work at Forsyth Barr Stadium and, before long, landed a role there where he completed his qualification.

Throughout his time at the stadium Mr Watson has improved his knowledge to help him take on the manager role two years ago.

“I’ve just loved every minute of it … sitting in a classroom wasn’t for me and when I discovered this job, getting out of bed each morning was easy”

Mr Watson’s primary focus was daily monitoring of the field such as keeping track of what was going on beneath the ground, making sure the moisture levels were right as well as what was happening on top to make sure the grass was performing.

Between he and another staff member, they are responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the field.

The first pile of the stadium was driven in the ground in winter 2009 and was officially opened in 2011 ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Since then more than two million patrons have enjoyed events on the pitch from top international sporting events to concerts, festivals and more.

Of course, being a covered stadium meant the field never got any rain on it, nor did it get much sunlight – only 50 percent light was received through the roof, therefore irrigation was vital, and if it wasn’t for irrigation Mr Watson said there would be no field to play on. “Irrigation is absolutely crucial to managing the field, we can’t rely on any rain, we also don’t get much light, so the grass can become very weak.” The field, which is 9,200m² (just under a hectare) is home to 40 popup sprinklers, which could be operated remotely. In the growing months from October through to March, five to six millimetres of water were put on each day and over the winter months about one to two millimetres are put on across a week. Any dry patches or spots the sprinklers did not reach were hand watered. “We monitor the soil moisture Approximately 800 kilograms of nitrogen was put super closely heading into on the field a year. events like these, if it’s too Mr Watson said although the field was under cover it could still get really cold, therefore, they low the field will dry out also use light and heat lamps to encourage growth. and if it’s too high it will turn “With an outside field or turf there is more into mud, we don’t want margin for error with the irrigation, because you can rely on getting a bit of sunlight and rain – either of those things.” however being undercover we can’t, therefore we have to have the irrigation system as close to 100 percent accurate as possible.” He said having the field right in preparation for events was a big part of his job. “A lot of the rugby games are televised therefore not only does it need to be performing well it needs to look good.” However over time there had been a shift in focus from not necessarily having the best-looking field. “You can have the best-looking grass but it might not be the right soil moisture content for a game and how it is can really affect the play … a sign of success is always when people say it was good to play on.”

“Yes, it has to look good but, success isn’t all about that, it [the field] has to be able to withstand the number of events we have.”

The Forsyth Barr Stadium field was regularly home to concertgoers and the set up for concerts often involved a big pack-in and pack-out, therefore an extended period where it was not possible to irrigate. For standing concerts, the field was fully covered. For seated concerts, just the walkways were covered.

“We monitor the soil moisture super closely heading into events like these, if it’s too low the field will dry out and if it’s too high it will turn into mud, we don’t want either of those things.”

Mr Watson said a highlight of his career would have to not only be “the big rugby matches” but also the Ed Sheeran concerts in 2018.

“We had three concerts over four nights, the place was absolutely buzzing, however, it was a long time for the field to be covered … I can still remember pulling up the floor after being under cover for six days and being pleased with how good the pitch had handled it.”

Unlike many other stadium fields where the turf was grown off site, the Forsyth Barr stadium field was renovated every three years. The previous field was lifted, and new seed sewed to plant a new one.

“I consider that a big highlight and cool to be a part of … it can be stressful to have it back operating in time but it’s pretty exciting when you go through the process.”

Mr Watson said turf management had been a great career for him, “I love it, I struggle to see where else I would be.”

“When I was a kid growing up I loved sport from basketball, rugby and golf however I didn’t really have the skill to play it at the top level … however this way I’m involved with top-level sport, just not playing it.”

“It’s a bit contradictory that I say I love my job because you’re outside given the field is under a roof! However, I love it, you’re outside enjoying it and being hands-on.”

“If you decide you’re going to be lazy it shows, you’ve got to dig in and do the hard yards you can’t leave it and come back.” “If you decide you’re going to be lazy it shows, you’ve got to dig in and do the hard yards you can’t leave it and come back.”

Irrigation is a crucial element to the only fully covered turf stadium in the world.