One more significant rain event and we could be in for a great wheat season is the word around the traps at present.
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This week’s hot, windy conditions have left crops thirsty, however Cootamundra agronomist Phil Bowden reports the season is on track.
The canola harvest is expected to start later this month and with rain at the the right time all season, it is tipped to be a strong yielding year for local farmers.
Adding to a positive seasonal outlook is the fact canola prices remain strong as farmers in some other areas of the country, including Western Australia and South Australia battle less than ideal conditions, which is expected to affect the amount of canola coming out of these generally strong parts of the country.
The wheat harvest is sitting on a finer knife’s edge, with crops still susceptible to a late frost.
While minimum temperatures are not predicted to dip much below 10 degrees this week, farmers do not have to cast their minds back far to recall the devastation when 12 sub zero temperatures in October, 2013 wiped out up to half of some crops, particularly affecting low-lying areas.
Mr Bowden said a decent drop of 25-30mm would finish wheat crops off nicely.
The wheat harvest will start following the finish of canola.
With spring storms always on the horizon, Mr Bowden said if you’re in the right spot at the right time, it could be a terrific finish for crops.
On a livestock front, farmers continue to get good prices for both lamb and cattle with cattle catching the price per kilo of lamb.