He says 'not having all your eggs in one basket' is the key to keeping the farm going, particularly with the run of challenging seasons in the last three years.

Michael farms 1100 hectares, with 300has leased land.

About 800has is dedicated to cropping. He also runs 2800 sheep, as a self replacing Merino flock.

While the business is usually two thirds cropping and a third sheep Michael said the sheep have been carrying the busness through the drier years.

Sheep have now taken the place of a legume crop in the program, as they struggled in the dry conditions and still provide a 'break' in the cropping program and weed control.

"Pastures are just as important as any legume crop for a disease break and supply of N," Michael said.

"In the past I've done deep soil N tests and found in excess of 200kg of avaliable N following a vetch crop and I suspect the results from medic are just as good."

With fertiliser prices well over $1000 this available N can mean a saving of $200-$250/ha over two to three years.

Crops include wheat, barley, canola and peas. Vetch and medic is grown for seed production.

This year 30has is dedicated to medics and 36has to vetch.

"I've been playing around with vetch for 25 years," he said. "It's only in the last five years I've been growing medics.

"I'm heading more towards medics, because the vetch crops just haven't been producing enough seed for next years pastures.

"Vetch can also be very expensive to buy in. Medic provides a self seeding pasture.

"Once you've got an established medic pasture it will regenerate and be quite productive even in drier years."