Kewell grain grower is looking for some winter rain

A Kewell grain grower’s crops are tracking along nicely but he is looking for rain around the corner.

Tracking well: Robert Ruwoldt in his barley crop at Kewell. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

SUMMER rain is keeping a Kewell grain grower’s crops going this season as he waits for a winter downpour.

Robert Ruwoldt, who produces wheat, barley, canola and lentils, said he has received about 250mm of rain for the year.

“We are lucky we got the summer rain,” he said.

“We received about 100mm for the summer.

“If we didn’t get that summer rain in the bucket we would be pretty concerned.”

He said his crops were still tracking along well but he was holding out for rain.

“We are going along nicely but we are looking for rain around the corner,” Mr Ruwoldt said.

Crops received about 150mm at the start of the season but had “no big rains” this month or last month, he said. “Having no rain in June or July is unusual,” Mr Ruwoldt said.

“But farming is all about managing weather and turning water into dollars.”

This year Mr Ruwoldt said he had good soil moisture for sowing, which wasn’t typical for his crops.

“We had good moisture for sowing, which is not usually normal as we have been dry sowing,” he said.

A few years ago Mr Ruwoldt said his crops had been affected by frost, however last year proved to be an “above average year”.

And he said he still had confidence in this season’s yields.

“This season everything is tracking well and crops are getting up ahead of schedule,” Mr Ruwoldt said.

“If we get a bit over 300mm for the year it will be good.”

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