Headers could be back in the shed sooner than anticipated

Early predictions had harvest running through until March this year but weather is helping to speed up the process.

If the fine weather continues, headers could be out of the paddock and back in the shed quicker than initially anticipated.

Earlier predictions of headers continuing until March have largely been quashed, and many landholders say they are close to completing a challenging harvest.

NSW Farmers grains committee chairman and Howlong farmer Justin Everitt said the harvest was almost complete at his place.

However, he conceded there were parts of NSW and Victoria where conditions were so wet that harvesters were still getting bogged well into January.

“We hope to be finished, but there are others that will be going for a bit longer yet,” he said.

“It really does depend on the weather; we have had a pretty good run,” he said.

Despite a harvest dominated by wet weather, some excellent yields had been achieved.

Mr Everitt said it hadn’t been an “enjoyable” harvest.

He said the roads and delivering grain to silos was problematic.

“I’m sick of getting new tyres for trucks and fixing trucks ... these things just don’t happen when the roads are in good order,” he said.