FARMERS are anticipating an early spring as the weather heats up across the state.
Many croppers expect an early harvest, with canola now out in flower in parts of NSW.
While the southern part of the state has been hit with a dry winter, rain expected in the next week has hopes high.
Delta Agriculture agronomist Warwick Nightingale, Lockhart, said canola in the Lockhart area is 20 per cent to 30pc in flower at the moment.
“It’s been a cold winter, we had some early canola go in prior to Anzac day then had good rain on Anzac day, then we got some warm weather, those crops planted prior to Anzac are out in flower now,” Mr Nightingale said.
“There is a stark difference planting prior to Anzac day and planting after it, mainly due to in-crop rainfall after Anzac day.”
Canola producer, Andrew Driscoll, “Wonga”, Milbrulong, said he planted his crops after Anzac day and they are only just starting to show signs of flowering.
“It's just starting to flower, I was probably a little late putting it in, I got it in after Anzac day, it seems to be a little slower than anything put in before then,” Mr Driscoll said. While earlier-than-usual flowering is underway in the south, farmers in the state’s north have said they are desperately seeking rain in order for full flower to happen.
Canola producer, Ian Johnston, "Oranmore", Dunedoo, said 10pc of his crop is in flower but they are desperately seeking more moisture to bolster growth.
“The crop is at a couple of different stages, some of it is starting to throw out flower now, about 10 per cent, but we are desperately wanting more rain to bulk it up,” Mr Johnston said.
The potential of more rain in the area in the next few weeks followed by warmer weather has the area’s farmers hoping for the best.
“We had 20 millimetres last week, there’s a little expected over the week, we need it as the crop doesn't have leaf mass, it’s moisture starved.”
Urea spread across parts of the south in NSW is laying in wait for more rain.
“We are just starting to see the beginnings of early spring growth now, after last week’s lot of rain, we have had a fair bit of urea going out on these crops in between rainfall events, as optimising has improved with recent rain,” Mr Nightingale said.
Pulse crops, lucerne and faba beans have been said to be slow growing this season because of frosty, dry weather.
“The weather has reduced the amount of vegetative growth,” Mr Nightingale said.
