The headers have moved through a lot faster than normal in some areas of the state, especially the north, but there are still some good paddocks to come off as harvest moves further south.
Some of the better crops (relative for the year we’ve had) are being reported in parts of the Central West and South West Slopes, including in areas like Cowra, Harden and Wallendbeen.
Given crop forecasts are significantly down overall, we want to celebrate those crops that have made it to harvest, despite the odds.
Given we’ve had lower rainfall across the eastern states (with the exception of parts of Victoria) than 2006/07, it is a credit to growers’ ability to produce a crop at all, and is thanks to their advances in water use efficiency.
READ MORE: Harvest 2017 through your eyes
We’ve even heard of one farm in southern Queensland which yielded three tonnes a hectare of barley from just 45 millimtres of in-crop rain. This is desert conditions – but due to good management the crop was able to be sown into a good moisture profile.
Our photographer, Rachael Webb, has put together this gallery of harvest shots from the past couple years harvests that she snapped while driving through the state.