Mr Lawless said the initial results from the air seeder configuration, which also includes the addition of a GPS and press wheels, had been promising.

"We decided to make the change as part of a plan to minimise risk," Mr Lawless said.

"Rather than looking to grow really good crops in wet years, we're just looking to ensure we can get something each year.

"The plan with our system is consistency, just targeting a good, profitable crop each year, rather than rolling the dice."

Mr Lawless said the wider row spacings meant a lower plant density, which helped them to keep going in drier years.

He said he did not want to encourage too much plant growth and too many tillers as can be the case with narrow row spacings.

"We're growing grain, not hay."

There is also the issue of plants in narrow spacings competing with each other for moisture and nutrients.

The wide rows are being used in order to try and ensure better moisture conservation, with water running off the surface into the row furrows.

"Given the low rainfall we've had throughout the growing season, the crops have hung on really well."

He said the addition of press wheels could not be underestimated.

"That little bit of a furrow has really helped, not just in getting seed-soil contact, but also by harvesting moisture.

"Previously a rain of 5mm hasn't been much use to us, but when it runs down into the press wheel furrow it can have a real benefit."