New Zealand farmer breaks world record with massive 17.398 tonne per hectare wheat crop
New Zealand
July 8, 2020
Eric Watson from Ashburton, New Zealand has taken out the Guinness World Record for the Highest wheat yield for the second consecutive time. Watson produced an incredible 17.398 tonnes per hectare wheat crop, beating his previous record crop grown in 2017 of 16.791 tonnes per hectare.
Eric Watson (left) and Bayer Regional Business Manager for Mid and South Canterbury David Weith
On average, irrigated wheat yields in New Zealand produce around 12 tonnes per hectare, demonstrating how remarkable the new record is – an achievement admired by the wider industry, and providing insights into innovations for future growth.
Mr Watson was thrilled with the result as he strives to continually improve and make advancements to his yields and farming operation.
"We are very proud to have achieved such a result. The Guiness World Record is a nice recognition of our hard work and new innovations we‘ve put in place. While we were thrilled with the record result in 2017, we saw ways in which we could make improvements and achieve an even higher yield,“ said Mr Watson.
"By trying new cultivars, switching to liquid nitrogen and monitoring plant health more regularly we were able to achieve another incredible result.
Because of the high wheat yields we can grow on our farm we are pleased if we see yields increase year-on-year by 100-200 kg/ha.So to beat my last crop by almost 600 kg/ha exceeded even my hopes“ said Watson.
Planted in April 2019 and harvested on 17 Feburary 2020, the wheat variety is Kerrin, bred by KWS and supplied by Carrfields Grain & Seed, and it will likely be used for feeding New Zealand’s beef or dairy herd.
Eric worked closely with Bayer‘s New Zealand Crop Science team for both of his records receiving agronomy advice and using a range of their crop protection herbicides and fungicides.
Bayer Regional Business Manager for Mid & South Canterbury David Weith said the latest Guinness World Record shows New Zealand is an important part of the global arable market and puts the country at the forefront in developing farming techniques and technologies that can be utilised by other farming nations to feed the world.
“We are delighted to see another Guinness World Record come out of New Zealand and to have contributed to this incredible result” said Mr Weith.
“Bayer is focused on improving crop yields through developing innovative products and crop management solutions. Our aim is to assist New Zealand to sustainably become the highest yield producing country in the world.“
The record attempt was a team partnership with PGG Wrightson Rural Supplies, Yara Fertilisers, SGS, Davis Ogilvie and Hill Laboratories in particular, working alongside Bayer to help Eric achieve his fantastic result.
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