Growers opt out of canola

Early estimates indicate that canola sowing could be back by 10 per cent in Victoria. See why farmers are leaving it out of their rotations.

Planting of canola could be back by as much as 10 per cent in Victoria if early estimates are any guide.

While there is still a window to plant the oilseed crop in some parts of the state, there are growers who have chosen to refrain from sowing due to dry conditions and the return at the silo at harvest.

According to the Australian Oilseeds Federation, Victorian farmers planted 550,000ha of canola in the 2023-24 season.

AOF chief executive Nick Goddard estimated that planting this year would be lower.

“In the Wimmera and Mallee, lentils are replacing canola in some areas,” he said.

Canola is currently priced at $662/tonne at Victorian ports, compared to lentils, which command $985/tonne.

Mr Goddard said crops that were sown earlier needed rain and, due to the dry conditions, the establishment had been patchy in several areas.

Agronomist Frank McRae of DLF seeds at Orange. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

Agronomist Frank McRae of Orange in the NSW central west said farmers in his area wanted to stick to their rotations, including canola, despite the dry conditions.

“It is concerning that we are hearing of growers returning seed in some areas though because it is too dry,” he said.

Mr McRae said there was still a level of confidence in the early-sown grazing canola varieties that had been sown and emerged.

Grain Producers Australia chairman and Miling, Western Australia farmer Barry Large said it was so dry that people were opting out of canola.

He said growers had returned canola seed to the wholesalers and were leaving it out of the rotation completely due to a lack of rain.

In the border region of NSW and Victoria, there has been more confidence in canola with agronomists reporting that about 60 per cent of crops were already at the establishment stage.

Desi Toohey is an agronomist with Elders at Albury in southern NSW. Picture: Supplied

Elders Albury agronomist Desi Toohey said precision planting systems had allowed farmers to get the seed where the moisture was in the soil moisture profile.

“There are crops that have established quite well in this area,” he said.

However, he emphasised there had been a significant variance in the rainfall distribution.