Dry start for Wimmera grain grower, but hopes are still high for season

It has been a dry start to sowing for this St Arnaud grain grower, but he remains positive about the season ahead.

Up and running: Colin Coates shows faba beans he began sowing on Monday at his St Arnaud farm, where he has already planted vetch, clover and lucerne. Picture: Zoe Phillips

ST ARNAUD grain grower Colin Coates will need a decent downpour of rain in the next few months to assure a good season for his crops.

The grower has dry-sowed vetch, clover and lucerne and began sowing faba beans on Monday.

Mr Coates said most of this year’s rain came in January, when 85mm fell.

“We’ve had probably 10mm in February and then 6mm in March and April,” he said.

“We are in the drier part of the state because it is green all the way round to Ballarat.”

Mr Coates said over the past two years, yearly rain had been 300mm to 390mm.

“So if we get 270mm in the next few months for the growing season we will be assured of a good year,” he said.

“There is some moisture down below at under 50mm, so if we can get a reasonable rain in the next three to four weeks the job will be up and running.”

This year, Mr Coates has pulled barley from his rotation due to prices dropping.

“We don’t follow the markets too much, but a few people have been taking barley out because of the price of barley and going for lentils or canola and that is what we have done as well,” he said.

“At the moment we are still keeping canola in, but every day it is staying dry. You are thinking it’s got to rain pretty soon, but everybody is positive.”

Despite minimal rain, Mr Coates said weed kill had been “exceptional” this year.

“That is holding us in good stead at this time,” he said.

“We don’t have to go out and spray our paddocks for weeds.”

MORE: TOUGH START TO SEASON

DIESEL RECOVERY NO SETBACK FOR SEASON