PREDICTED rainfall for the coming week is a worry for canola crops across the state although, for the most part, crops are looking to produce above average to average yields despite the wet weather.
Local Land Services senior land officer, Dale Kirby, Gunnedah, said most canola in the north had dodged any major water logging damage despite huge rainfall in the district.
Mr Kirby said throughout the season, insect pressure and disease have been manageable, with only some early cases of grass selective herbicide damage on isolated crops.
Some crops have started to show a bit of lodging but Mr Kirby said that was due to crops looking like they’ll produce above average yields.
Despite receiving 56 centimetres of in-crop rainfall on his canola since planting in April, Scott Jones, "Eurunga" Culcairn (pictured), said the crop is fairing relatively well.
Anything Mr Jones was able to sow early and was established before the big rainfall has been handling the overload of moisture fairly well, including his canola.
If everything goes to plan, Mr Jones said they should be able to harvest yields of 2.5 tonnes per hectare, with harvest set to kick off in mid November.
This year, Mr Jones said they plan to direct head their crop, which should work well as they’ve used the Pod-Ceal gene on their crop.
Rain in the south has had canola crops struggling, with Elders agronomist Charles Morgan, Coleambally, saying waterlogging in his district had become a problem for a lot of crops and is affecting yield potential.
Wet weather has also meant canola crops have had high disease pressure.
Well drained paddocks with canola in them are still expected to produce above average yields Mr Morgan said.
With more rain on the way for the area though, he said the region needs good drying off weather.
Delta Ag agronomist, Rodney Krueger, Trangie, said canola around the central west is looking quite good, although there has been some crop loss from excessive rain.
“There’s a lot of holes in the crops from flooding,” he said.
If farmers can get on their paddocks, windrowing should start within two to three weeks, but wet weather could mean more crops are direct headed. Mr Krueger said the district is expected to produce average yields.
