Farmers spread lime before sowing

Farmers across the eastern states are getting busy on the lime cart, as they wait for the autumn break and start sowing canola.

Macauley Gall on farm spreading lime at Goorambat. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Balancing soil pH before sowing canola in the upcoming winter cropping rotation is a priority.

Farmers can be seen spreading lime throughout the eastern states as they wait for the autumn break and start sowing.

Most areas have experienced dry weather after the wet conditions in January.

At Goorambat in northern Victoria, Macauley Gall has been busy applying lime to help achieve a soil pH level of six.

He said there had been a fair bit of lime going out, and it was important to apply it to any paddocks being prepared for canola.

Macauley Gall spreading lime at Goorambat. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“The aim for us is to increase the pH to around six, there are areas that are currently sitting at a pH of around five,” he said.

Mr Gall was recently working with the lime spreader in a paddock that had previously grown a crop of wheat last year.

It was scheduled to be sown to canola in April.

He said climatically, the paddocks had dried out in the past 10 days, and they would be looking for rain or an autumn break before sowing.

“We will sow wheat, canola and beans,” he said.

The family also runs prime lambs.