Gippsland farmers in for a good harvest after wet growing season

GIPPSLAND croppers have a healthy harvest ahead of them thanks to steady winter rainfall.

Rowan Paulet of Flynns Creek who won Southern Farming Systems Gippsland branch's 2012 winter crop Grain for Profit Cropping Competition

GIPPSLAND croppers have a healthy harvest ahead thanks to steady winter rain.

Elders Maffra agronomist Pat Feeney said Gippsland had fared well compared with other regions, despite early slug infestations and a dry spring.

Toongabbie grower Rowan Paulet said crops were running out of moisture, but he expected above-average yields across his 1000ha. Only about 5 per cent of his canola crops had been damaged by slugs.

Mr Paulet is predicting yields of two tonnes/ha of canola and five tonnes/ha of both barley and wheat.

Giffard West grower Trent Anderson said his canola and barley crops were in good condition, but the winter wheat could still use a good pour. He said he was expecting yields of 2.5 to three tonnes/ha of canola, four to five tonnes/ha of barley and three to 4.5 tonnes/ha of wheat.