Patchy start to canola sowing

While canola prices remain stronger than wheat, growers are hopeful the patchy start will still produce a full crop.

AWB Limited quoted the price of canola at $557 a tonne on Tuesday night, $1/t up on last week’s figure. 

At this time last year canola prices were steady at about $520/t.

NSW Department of Primary Industries technical specialist for oilseeds and pulses Don McCaffery, Orange, said the state’s planting area had settled to about 500,000 hectares, compared to last year which was 525,000ha.

“Some people are still on rotation plans in intensive canola growing areas,” Mr McCaffery said. 

He said people were also sowing later due to the later break in the dry season. 

“We had rain on May 9 and on the last day of April, so there’s patchy establishment from dry planted crops and those planted into red soils tend to crust,” he said. 

“Between the two rainfall events you would have better establishment than the earlier sown canola.” 

He said soil moisture profiles were variable across the state. 

“More specialty canola such as manola and Victory hybrids have increased in area this season,” he said. 

AWB farm marketer Darren Patterson, Wagga Wagga, said canola was off to a great start after a dry start to autumn a couple of inches of rain in May. 

“Canola is soaking up the warm days, is well established and farmers are getting their weed sprays on – it’s all going well,” Mr Patterson said. 

“There’s confidence in the start, it could be a cracker crop.” 

Mr Patterson said prices above $500/t was a good return for canola, with confidence in the season and the prices. 

​Pursehouse Rural agronomist Matt Roseby, Gunnedah, said it’s been a dry start to the season and had been extremely patchy in his area.

“Canola went in dry with the hope of rain, but we missed out on that, so there’s only been a strike of canola planted,” Mr Roseby said. 

“It should even up with rain, hopefully we get it sooner rather than later.” 

Mr Roseby said half of the canola planted in the north of the state looked patchy at best. 

“The canola market is healthier than the wheat market, which is why my clients decided to go with canola, which has been hindered by the season,” he said.

“Canola is $500/t plus, which we have been seeing for the past few weeks.” 

He said farmers won’t plant anymore canola as the window had closed.