Crop update: Rain timely for Donald grain growers

The cropping season has been on the drier side for Donald grain growers Dennis Baker and Finbar Wilde, but crops are still tracking well. Here’s how their season has been.

Growing passion: Dennis Baker, with son Finbar Wilde, in their chickpea crop at Donald. Picture: ZOE PHILLIPS

WHILE the season has been on the drier side for some Donald grain growers, rain that did come fell at the right time for crops.

Finbar Wilde, who works alongside his father Dennis Baker, said the growers had a great start to the season, and subsoil moisture levels had helped crops.

“It has been a funny season, and on the drier side,” Mr Wilde said.

“But rain has come at the right time so it is not too terrible.”

Crops received about 12mm over the weekend, Mr Wilde said.

“We had a little rain over the weekend. It wasn’t a big boost for crops, but we were happy with that,” he said.

He said canola was looking “impressive” and also pinned his hopes on the pair’s wheat and barley crops.

According to Mr Baker, no rain had “rushed out” this season.

“We haven’t had any rain over 20mm all year so it has been below average,” he said.

“It was a good autumn break, but it wasn’t a wet winter.”

Wheat crops got about 10mm of rain last week, Mr Baker said, but crops were still travelling well.