MOISTURE conservation and weed control are the focus of Keith Smith's winter cropping program on his property "Hillside", near Harden.
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Earlier this month he started sowing some early oats, and planned to get in some Wedgetail grazing wheat too.
"For the past few years the spring has been tight and short so any moisture we can conserve now could help get better yields," he said.
Mr Smith said some people in the district had already started planting grazing canola, but he was holding off putting in his until mid-April.
All up, he plants about 400 hectares of winter crops each year.
"We are still selling some of last season's crop, but I'm also keeping a eye on the next season prices," he said.
Mr Smith uses a broker to do most of his grain marketing.
"We set targets and leave clear and concise instructions - the broker looks after it from there," he said.
"The market can change in a matter of hours, that's why I use the broker."
Mr Smith said as price targets were met, portions of the crop were sold and this could mean the marketing was strung out across the season.
Mr Smith is pictured with rural traineeship student Jayden Nicholls who spends one day a week working and learning about farming as part of his secondary studies.
"Jayden has been with us for about 14 months," he said.
The course runs for two years and Hayden is currently in Year 11.