Crop yields in 2020 expected to top 2019 at Elmore

After harvesting his canola, Elmore grain grower Andrew Holmberg is poised for a bumper barley crop — and he still has wheat to go.

Elmore grain grower Andrew Holmberg says this harvest should top last year’s. Picture: Zoe Phillips

ELMORE grain grower Andrew Holmberg’s harvest is well underway, with the season on track to top last year’s yields.

Mr Holmberg has completed canola harvest and was on to his barley late last week, with wheat not too far away.

“Canola should generally be about three tonnes a hectare or better,” Mr Holmberg said.

For wheat, Mr Holmberg expects yields to reach about seven tonnes a hectare on his property.

“But I’m not sure how widespread that will be,” he said.

Heat hit the property at the weekend, with Saturday declared a total fire ban, and harvest was ceased.

But this wouldn’t affect crops too much, Mr Holmberg said.

“That weather is unfavourable but we just wait until it improves,” he said.

“It won’t affect crops.”

Mr Holmberg said this year’s bumper season has shaped up to be “way better than last year”, with sufficient rain hitting crops.

“Rain was underdone last year and we did a portion into hay, but that’s different this year,” he said.

“The quality of hay this year is an issue.”

With oats being graded in the export market, Mr Holmberg said feed quality was down this year.

“That’s why we have a mix of hay and grain, they are rarely all spectacular,” he said.

Hay has been a standout of the pair in the past few years, but grain would be the performer this year, he said.

“We have had a good season since the autumn break,” Mr Holmberg said.

“We haven’t gone without a lot of rain, there is a lot of grain.”

And he said that money will go back into the local economy after a tough year with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Holmberg expects harvest to wrap up in about two weeks at the property.

“Finishing the week before Christmas would be ideal timing,” he said.