CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FARMING SYSTEMS: TWO GROWERS' EXPERIENCES

THE current farming system has evolved with a row spacing of 1.5 m and harvesting machinery with a track width of 1.83 m or greater. This paper examines how two growers have minimised costs by developing and implementing new farming systems. Both have adopted farming systems based on controlled traffic principles to minimise soil compaction and crop damage caused by the harvest operation. They also undertake field operations on multiple crop rows to further reduce inputs. Due to the scale of their separate enterprises, one grower has modified harvester and haulouts to adopt a system based on 2.0 m row spacing while the other grower has adopted a 1.8 m row spacing system to be compatible with the commercially available machinery used by the harvesting contractor. Both growers have developed sound farming systems that will continue to develop as new skills and products become available. Benefits such as reduced time to undertake field operations and greater flexibility and timeliness have been noted by both growers. The transition from the previous row spacing of 1.5 m has been undertaken with minimal disruption to the farming cycle. These growers are very satisfied with the benefits accrued and will continue improving their farming systems.