Lumen Winter 2013 - Flipbook - Page 13
story by Genevieve Sanchez
King of the crops
In 1980, Peter Kuhlmann left Roseworthy Agricultural
College with an Associate Diploma in Farm Management
and within a year he was running the family farm.
T
he third-generation farmer from
Mudamuckla, on the west coast
of Eyre Peninsula, continues to
overcome the challenges his ancestors
have faced for over 100 years – that of
low rainfall and difficult soil conditions.
“Studying at Roseworthy gave me a
wide ranging set of farm management
skills to complement my on-farm
experience,” said Peter.
Using these skills to make the most of
this challenging environment saw Peter
named 2012 Australian Farmer of the Year
and Australian Grain Grower of the Year.
“The flavour of my application was that
marginal growers, the ones on the edge,
are good farmers as well.”
Peter said he was humbled by the win.
“There are lots of great farmers out
there—I feel a bit embarrassed to look
across and see this ‘Australian Farmer of
the Year’ plaque sitting there and realise
that’s me.”
The award has thrust Peter into the
limelight and he has found himself in
demand by the media for his comments,
invited to give presentations and attend
special events.
“Since I’ve won that award I’m the
expert on everything from live export of
cattle to anything else,” he jokes.
But this recognition as an outstanding
farmer is well deserved, with Peter
considered to be at the leading edge
of the industry in his use of innovative
technologies.
With his farm receiving an average
yearly rainfall of less than 300 millimetres,
Peter needs to optimise grain production
in whatever way he can in this marginal
environment, where he annually plants
around 6,500 hectares of mostly wheat,
plus some barley and canola.
Through conservation farming practices
such as stubble retention and no-till
farming, Peter is able to minimise soil
disturbance and maximise every drop of
rain that falls.
He is one of a handful of farmers on
the Eyre Peninsula using liquid fertiliser in
the form of phosphoric acid, which allows
him to get more value out of his fertiliser in
difficult calcareous soils.
And as an early adopter of precision
farming techniques, Peter uses GPS
technology to adjust the input of seed and
fertiliser in his soil.
He admits that adopting new
technology in a very dry area is risky
but his decisions and changes have
been incremental over the years and
are ultimately aimed at maximising
his production.
Peter says that going to university
taught him how to research and
challenge information and he continues
to be passionate about professional
development and sharing his knowledge.
He is a graduate of the Australia Rural
Leadership Program, a Fellow of the
Australian Institute of Company Directors,
and a former Board member of the
Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research
Foundation and the South Australia Grain
Industry Trust.
Sustaining the family farm into its third
generation, Peter has seen many tough
times and faces constant uncertainty
when choosing the right tactics to keep
the operation viable.
“Farming is all about compromise;
you’ve got to choose a path at the time
of sowing which is very critical – whether
to sew crops dry, some a bit early and
which paddocks later, as well as juggling a
herbicide strategy and variety selection.
“It’s a lot of trial and error – you weigh
up the options and have a go.
“My life has been farming, that’s what I
like doing, despite all of its challenges.”
Left: Peter Kuhlmann
Photo courtesy of
West Coast Sentinel
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 11
