NSW grain season: Walgett grower will have a crop for first time in years

Rain this season has meant a NSW grower will have a crop this season after years of drought.

Head start: Sam Evans in crops at his property at Walgett in NSW.

A NORTHERN NSW grain grower will have crops for the first time in four years following ample rain this season.

“This season compared to last is really like chalk and cheese,” Walgett grower Sam Evans said.

The cereal and legume producer said he had not had crops since 2016, after years of drought, but this year rainfall had almost reached average levels.

So far this season, Mr Evans’ crops has received about 400mm of rainfall. The region’s annual average is 450mm.

“Crops are tracking nicely, and moisture is good at the moment,” he said. “They will need a little bit more rain to finish them off and to get the job done properly.”

Crops were sown during the first week of May into moisture, Mr Evans said.

“After sowing we got about 76mm of rain,” he said.

And three separate falls in June and July followed that, boosting crops with another 20mm to 40mm.

Mr Evans said some crops had the potential to get to four tonnes a hectare.

“They will probably come out two to three tonnes a hectare across the board,” he said.

“But we will really take what we can get this year.”

Mr Evans said some growers near him were not as lucky.

“Some crops are a bit patchy in areas north west of Walgett,” he said.

“They got some early rain but then the tap turned off and there isn’t enough moisture there underneath.”

Summer crops were also on the cards for Mr Evans this season, but that will depend on more rain.

“I am looking at planting sorghum, but we will need a lot more rain for that,” he said.

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