Rangitīkei maize grower strikes gold at 2024 Arable Awards

Marton’s Simon Nitschke (above, centre) has scooped the pool winning both “Maize Farmer of the Year” and “Arable Farmer of the Year” at the recent 2024 Arable Awards in Christchurch. The accolades acknowledge Nitschke’s management skills and dedication to producing top-quality maize grain yields.

Simon, who runs family-owned Arable Solutions, has been growing maize grain for around a decade and says the win was a proud moment for him and his team.

“Winning the overall title was a big surprise” says Simon. “It confirms we are on the right track and helps to validate many years of hard work”.

Each year Simon plants approximately 200 ha of Pioneer® brand maize with longer maturity hybrids being planted on fertile river silt and shorter maturity hybrids on heavier clay soils. This strategic approach allows him to maximise yield potential across different soil types.

Typically, crops planted on the river silt yield 15-17 tonnes per hectare while those on clay soils yield 13-15 tonnes per hectare. In 2023, Simon’s trial plot of P0937 yielded an outstanding 20.2 tonnes per hectare winning him the National title in the Pioneer Maize for Grain Yield Competition.

In addition to maize, Simon grows malt barley and wheat as part of his crop rotation.

Simon believes that maintaining optimum soil pH, matching planting population to the growing environment and using high quality seed are some of the keys to maximising crop yield.

“We also focus on seed bed preparation and planting to ensure we get fast and even seedling emergence which also helps to drive crop yields”.

Simon’s achievement is a testament to the quality and potential of Rangitīkei’s agricultural sector and his success highlights some of the innovative practises driving the maize industry in New Zealand.