Canterbury arable cropping

Model chapter

This chapter contains model results and commentary from the 2009 arable monitoring programme as a printable PDF. The chapter provides information on the production and financial status of the Canterbury model. Model chapters will no longer be published in the horticulture and arable monitoring report.

Download the model chapter in PDF format [419K PDF]

To request a printed copy of this document please contact policy.publications@maf.govt.nz

Data release

This release provides key points and budget tables from the 2009 arable cropping monitoring programme. Final results from the 2009 monitoring round, with commentary on the model are due for release in mid August 2009. This budget was compiled in June 2009 and is based on grower and industry expectations at the time.

Key points

Yields and quality were below average for Canterbury crops in 2008/09 after a season of unfavourable weather capped off by a wet harvest.
Price expectations for cereals rose and then fell markedly during 2008/09, which altered the normal supply and demand patterns. Those most affected were growers with un-contracted cereal crops hoping to make gains trading on the spot market.
Falling demand for grain saw an increased quantity of crop on hand at the end of 2008/09, resulting in a reduction in cash receipts for the year, and a cash deficit for the model of $77 900. A cash surplus of $106 800 is budgeted for 2009/10 as the carried-over cereal stocks are expected to be sold and farm working expenses are reduced by 7 percent.
The cereal area grown on the farm model will be reduced in the 2009/10 season in favour of proprietary small seeds and process vegetable crops, due to firm prices expected for these products. While contract grain prices have fallen, they remain higher than in 2007/08.
Despite a correction in land values, equity levels remain high on most arable farms. Investment in capital equipment is focused on efficient use of inputs.

Canterbury arable cropping model tables and graph

Table 1: Key parameters, financial results and budget for the Canterbury arable cropping model
Table 2: Canterbury arable cropping model budget
Table 3: Canterbury arable cropping model expenditure
Figure 1: Canterbury arable cropping model profitability trends

Download Excel format [74K XLS]

To request this information in CSV format please contact stats_info@maf.govt.nz

Information about the model

Canterbury is the largest arable cropping area in New Zealand. The Canterbury arable cropping model represents about 500 properties larger than 100 hectares located throughout Canterbury, of which about half are in the mid Canterbury region.

The model is created from information drawn from 20 arable farms and a wide cross-section of agribusiness representatives. The aim of the model is to typify an average arable cropping farm for Canterbury. Budget figures are averaged from the contributing properties and adjusted to represent a real arable farm. Income figures include income from crops and stock, off-farm income, new borrowing, and other cash income. Expenditure figures include costs of production, debt, leasing, drawings and development and capital purchases.

The monitored farms generate more than 50 percent of their income from growing crops. They are generally either more than 75 percent irrigated, or are located in usually reliable rainfall areas. Most properties grow a combination of crops, which are grouped in the budget into cereals, small seeds (including grass, clover and vegetable seeds), process vegetables, silage and other crops. Most have some type of stock enterprise as an integral part of the system, for example, grazing, trading and/or breeding stock.

For more information on the model contact: murray.doak@maf.govt.nz

Contact for Enquiries

Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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