Dry year impacts crop yields

Crops at Wycheproof have withstood a dry year better than initially expected. See the early harvest results.

Wycheproof farmer Spencer Allan said considering what has been a challenging year, he is reasonably happy with early harvest results.

This week, he was stripping barley before moving on to canola, lentils, and later wheat, and then he was planning to finish the program with barley again.

“We have only had 115mm of growing season rainfall,” he said.

Typically, the mixed farming property that runs winter crops and sheep in north west Victoria would receive an average annual rainfall of 300mm to 350mm. However, this year, it was dry.

Spencer Allan harvesting barley, near Wycheproof. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Spencer said the paddock of barley was yielding about 1.5 tonnes/ha. However, he hoped that the yields would be better as he moved onto other paddocks.

“Things should pick up a little from here on in … it has been really dry,” he said.

The fact that the dry season took a toll on canola, too, means they will opt to direct head rather than windrow.

“The majority of it doesn’t have the bulk to be windrowed,” Spencer said.

The Allan family harvest barley near Wycheproof. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Traditionally, they would windrow canola; however, in dry seasons, they have taken the option to direct head in the past.

The dry season also meant that harvest was about two weeks earlier than usual for their area. And they were hoping to be finished in early December.