Rice is nice for 2015 crop

"We're about halfway through (the harvest) at the moment... and yields are pretty good," said Greg Bonetti, who grows rice on about seven different blocks of land about Benerembah, near Griffith.

The yields for Mr Bonetti are around 13 tonnes a hectare so far.

"The rule of thumb is if it's anything above 121/2, you're having a good season," he said.

"Last year, it was a bit under 12t/ha."

A SunRice spokesperson agreed the crop was looking good.

"Overall yields are strong with some variability resulting from the low minimum temperatures that occurred in the second half of January," the spokesperson said.

"The 2015 rice harvest commenced mid-March, with dry conditions assisting our growers.

"Receivals at April 14 were just over 370,000t of paddy rice across all growing regions.

"In total, we are anticipating about 700,000t to come in across the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys by the end of April, weather permitting."

Mr Bonetti said he thought this might be down slightly on last year.

"There has been a big push on cotton and corn in the last couple of years, especially in areas where water is a bit more marginal."

Those who had stuck with rice for this year were looking at a good season, though, with the good yields matched by optimism on the prices.

"I'm not exactly sure (what price this harvest will receive)... if it's about $360/t to $380/t that's a pretty good price," Mr Bonetti said.

The SunRice spokesperson said the price for the 2015 harvest had not been set yet.

"The indicative 2014 paddy price remains at $360/t for medium grain (Reiziq) and $490/t for Koshihikari. This includes a $20/t payment boost announced in December 2014 following improved milling yields for the 2014 crop and strong global pricing," The spokesperson said.

"It is too early to speculate on the pricing for the 2015 crop but, based on current global conditions, prospects are good.

"We look forward to sharing indicative 2015 pricing with our growers later in the year, once budgets are finalised."

Ricegrowers Association of Aust-ralia executive director Dean Logan said autumn rain was delaying the harvest in some areas but overall the crop was in good condition.

"There were some concerns with the bit of cold weather earlier in the year but it doesn't seem to have had much of an impact...for some, the harvest got pushed back a bit because of the rain.

Mr Bonetti said the major concern for rice growers at the moment was water allocations.

RICE grower Trent Temporali said conditions were ideal

this year for the summer rice crop which is still being stripped across southern NSW.

Most growers would have all but wrapped up harvest after a short stop at Easter following widespread – but varied – rainfall.

Mr Temporali (pictured) harvested 180 hectares of rice this season with his father Frank on their properties “Farm 60” and “Willow Park”, Warrawidgee, near Griffith.

They planted mainly medium grain variety Reziq which had yielded on average 12t/ha.

“Everything fell in our favour this year, we had medium temperatures throughout the season, and it still has good moisture in it at about 15 per cent (at harvest),” Mr Temporali said.

“It was the ideal rice season, temperatures were pretty

spot on and there was no extreme heat or frost damage.”

“We did get hit with a string of cold temperatures briefly but the crops show no damage from that.”

Despite the success on the bulk of their rice, almost half of their 40ha crop of long grain variety Langi had suffered hail damage, Mr Temporali said.

The performance of the Reziq made up for the yield penalty though, he said.

Warrawidgee's winning harvest

RICE grower Trent Temporali said conditions were ideal

this year for the summer rice crop which is still being stripped across southern NSW.

Most growers would have all but wrapped up harvest after a short stop at Easter following widespread – but varied – rainfall.

Mr Temporali (pictured) harvested 180 hectares of rice this season with his father Frank on their properties “Farm 60” and “Willow Park”, Warrawidgee, near Griffith.

They planted mainly medium grain variety Reziq which had yielded on average 12t/ha.

“Everything fell in our favour this year, we had medium temperatures throughout the season, and it still has good moisture in it at about 15 per cent (at harvest),” Mr Temporali said.

“It was the ideal rice season, temperatures were pretty

spot on and there was no extreme heat or frost damage.”

“We did get hit with a string of cold temperatures briefly but the crops show no damage from that.”

Despite the success on the bulk of their rice, almost half of their 40ha crop of long grain variety Langi had suffered hail damage, Mr Temporali said.

The performance of the Reziq made up for the yield penalty though, he said. – SIMONE NORRIE