Evan Lewis could start harvest earlier due to the tight season

Harvest could be weeks early at the Lewis family’s farm at Werneth, as the season starts to ‘close in’.

Harvest could be significantly earlier at the Lewis family’s property at Werneth this year.

Evan and Suzanne Lewis operate a mixed-farming property with winter crops and sheep and this year planted about 900ha of crops, including winter wheat, canola, barley and faba beans.

“We tried barley again this year because China came back on board as buyers of barley,” Evan said.

He said their first wheat crops in early April were sown into moisture, using a no-till disc seeder and “those crops look OK”.

However, they worked other paddocks and put in raised beds thinking a La Nina was coming, so the moisture was let go and those crops have “suffered”.

“While the weather has been cool the crops look OK, but now the weather is warming up you can see the season is starting to close in,” Evan said.

Evan Lewis on farm in his canola crop at Werneth. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Evan said some of the barley crops were starting to dry out now, so an earlier harvest would be on the cards.

“We normally start in the first week or two of December, but at this rate it could be mid November or even earlier when we start,” he said.

While they had experienced a couple of frosts in recent weeks, it was too early to tell if there had been damage yet.

“This year reminds me of 2006, we had 600-700 acres of canola in and we lost the lot.”

Evan said however the crops turned out it would be worth harvesting.

“We will have something, but I know there are many others who maybe won’t.”

He said with so many others cutting hay, he didn’t think there would be enough of a market if they were to cut hay.

Evan Lewis and daughter Jane with their Jack Russell terriers, Honey, Jacko, Rex and Trixie on farm in wheat crop at Werneth. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“We cut canola in 2006 and it was a nightmare, so we won’t do that again.”

In terms of prices, Evan said it gave them “a bit of heart” to see wheat prices had improved slightly close to harvest.

“We haven’t locked anything in yet, due to the production risk.”

While Evan said they were cautious about what they would end up harvesting, they were also aware they will get something off and felt for others who had potentially lost a whole year’s worth of income.

“If we get rain this weekend, all the wheat might fill, it just depends what moisture reserves are like.”

Evan Lewis in his wheat crop on farm at Werneth. Picture: Zoe Phillips