Struggle after bumper year

AFTER a bumper crop last year some crops at Diggora, west of Rochester in Central Victoria, are looking their worst ever.

NEWS: Bruce Macague season report Bruce and Lindsey Macague are cropping at Diggora, they are having a very dry year after a bumper season lasy year. Canola crops looking worst he has ever seen it. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

AFTER a bumper harvest last year, some crops in central Victoria are shaping up as their worst ever.

Bruce and Lindsey Macague planted about 1600ha of crops this year at Diggora, west of Rochester, but since January have received no rain events greater than 20mm to soak the soil.

Mr Macague said his crops had received less than half their average growing season rainfall.

Only 30 per cent of the years of data collection have recorded less rainfall than the 140mm the Macagues have received this year.

Mr Macague halved his canola plantings from last year, replacing it with barley, but said the oilseed was not faring well.

“We have had just enough moisture to get the cereals up but the canola crop is the worst I have seen,” he said.

“If we haven’t had a decent drop by the end of August everything will be cut for hay.”

The family also planted about 150ha of irrigated crops and recently bought temporary water, which has doubled in price since this time last year to $200 a megalitre, to start watering this month.

Elmore Landmark agronomist Greg Toomey said the area west of Rochester was the driest in his patch and “spring rainfall was critical to success”, with about 30cm of soil moisture available.

“If the rain doesn’t pick up in August and September that ... will be used up,” he said.

“Fortunately lots of my clients can cut crops for hay ... and hay prices should remain firm.”