Little rain and scorching temperatures have forced farmers to begin harvest early, with headers lining up to strip barley around the Gunnedah district.
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It’s been a tough season for growers who have had to contend with poor rainfall and a hot, dry finish, causing a drop in yields and quality.
Dryland barley crops are averaging between 2-3.5 tonne per hectare with some farmers recording reasonably high screenings of pinched up grain through the lack of moisture during the grain filling period.
Landmark Gunnedah agronomist Aaron Goddard said it has been a challenging season.
“The yields are below average but that’s just reflective of the conditions and lack of rain,” he said.
“The long fallow country, it may yield OK considering the conditions, and the wheat doesn’t look too bad at this stage.”
Gunnedah farmer Noel Swain began helping harvest his brother Ian’s block a week ago and has stripped about 140 hectares of barley.
He said the yield was only average or just below average but for a such a dry year, it was a “reasonable result”.
“I think it went around 2.5 tonne to the hectare. It was too dry and we didn’t get enough rain,” he said.
“We’ve only had 300mm for the year and our average is 600mm.”
Those with irrigated crops have been pumping the water into their paddocks in the hope of boosting yields.
“There’s been a fair bit of moisture used in the irrigation of winter crops,” Mr Goddard said.
“Up to two megalitres to a hectare for winter crops over the last two months have had water.
“The hot finish has reduced their yield potential and the other thing we’re seeing is the potential for crown rot in dryland durum wheat crops due to the dry weather.”
Barley prices are sitting at $235-$240 a tonne.
Feed wheat is fetching $255, the higher grade wheat is about $290 a tonne, while number one grade durum is attracting $480 a tonne.
Director of Pinnacle Commodities Jane Barker said barley had picked up a lot in the past week with the lack of grower selling, but prices are slightly down on last year.
Demand for harvested wheat headed for the export market at the packing facilities in Narrabri however, is proving strong.
“There’s a lot of competition from the buyers and the prices have been very strong given the lack of protein from competitors overseas, including Canada and the US,” Ms Barker said.
“They’ve had a lot of weather issues which downgraded their quality and in Europe as well, so there’s a lack of higher quality around the world. We’ve been able to supply that this year and there’s been demand for our wheat.”
Canola harvest is also under way around Gunnedah, with dryland crops making 1-2.5 tonnes a hectare.
“The oil has been reasonably good which is a good thing because they get paid a premium above 42 per cent oil,” Mr Goddard said.
He added many farmers who are stripping dryland winter crops are baling their stubble to store or sell as feed for stock.
“It could be in demand and there could be feed shortages because we just don’t have a lot of summer and spring growth we’d normally get at this stage,” Mr Goddard said.
Graincorp receivals in NSW are currently sitting at about 222,800 tonnes.
“Most of the crops are concentrated in the southern regions but what growers have been able to produce has been a good
testament to their skill in difficult conditions,” a Graincorp spokesman said.
Wheat is expected to be stripped in two weeks, although some earlier crops are being harvested now.