GROWERS are reasonably positive about the winter cropping season, with moisture looking good across the state and most areas expecting average to above average yields at harvest.
Delta Ag agronomist, Harry Pye, Narrabri said the district is expecting to have cracking results this coming harvest.
Mr Pye said crops that were established prior to big rainfall were looking to produce above average yields this season as they were able to utilise the moisture from rainfall events.
Later sown crops are still looking good, although Mr Pye said there had been some reported crop loss from water logging.
“Crops have recovered if they weren’t completely covered in water,” he said.
Wheat crops sown in April, with varieties such as Lancer, are post flowering and are starting to fill head now.
Chickpeas are developing well in the district, with early planted crops standing out.
Mr Pye said most chickpea crops have had a grass spray and growers had been very diligent with their fungicide regimes to stay on top of ascochyta.
“Growers are basically spraying fungicide every three weeks“ he said.
In the south of the state, Elders agronomist Charles Morgan, Coleambally, said earlier sown crops hadn’t suffered from water logging to the same extent as the later planted crops – pulse crops and canola were suffering most of the brunt from water logging.
Provided the district gets some spring rain to finish off dryland crops, Mr Morgan said yields should be average to above average.
Despite planting their crops later than usual, Peter Ritter, The Downs Pastoral, Gurley, said they’ve had a favourable start to the season.
After good falls of rain late in the sowing season, Mr Ritter and his father Kent were able to plant their Commander barley and Sunstate wheat on a full soil profile.
Mr Ritter said since sowing, they’ve had good in-crop rain and warm weather, which has helped the crops immensely.
“After a cracking start to the season and conditions the way they are we are in a good position for a big harvest,” he said.
Ag n Vet Services agronomist, Ian Elliot, Dubbo, said recent sunshine in the district has helped crops bounce back from waterlogging.
Some low-lying country in the region has been washed out this season although, Mr Elliot said generally, yields would be above average.
With some country missing out on being planted due to wet weather during the sowing period in the North, Mr Pye said he suspected dryland cotton would get a good kick this summer.
“There’s a lot of interest in dryland cotton with sorghum prices down and mungbeans being such a particular crop,” he said.
“The cotton price is good and growers have full profiles, so they’re seriously looking into it.”
