Livestock farmers are flocking back to the cropping industry, lured by soaring grain prices but also as a rotation to renew pasture damaged by drought.
Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Nick Pyke said his database had increased in the last year from 3500 growers to 3700, most of the newcomers on the sheep-farming fringes of Southland, Otago, South Canterbury and Canterbury.
There had also been a swing in the North Island in the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, where drought-affected farmers were growing crops as part of a pasture-renewal programme.
Mr Pyke said most were growing feed barley, with some growing maize, and while some growers had indicated they were only cropping for one year, others had made a longer commitment.
Many newcomers were using contractors rather than their buying their own gear, but come harvesting time, farmers may need to think laterally and work together, Mr Pyke said.
Also, while there were plenty of harvesters in the country, they may have to be moved between regions to complete the harvest, he said.
Another potential issue was the lack of storage because of demand from dairy farmers seeking on-farm silos for feeding grain to their cows and new or expanding cropping farmers needing it for storage.
Mr Pyke said the foundation had been holding re-education courses for barley and maize growers.
He believed there would be a swing back to cropping, with sheep and beef farmers returning to the practice of having paddocks of crop to spread their risk.
"It is one option they need to be thinking about. It is an option to allow them to spread risk without too much capital if they have got the right contractors."
The owner of Rakaia Engineering, John Kuyf, said he expected to install 400 silos on farms this year, double what he normally did.
The firm has been building up stocks ahead of time to meet the increased demand.
There was no delay in getting them built, but in getting building consents from councils, he said.
Many farmers did not realise silos required building consent, and that could push out the time to get them built to between six and eight weeks.
"We have plenty in stock. The problem with getting that stock out is compliance."