Optimism for Victorian crops after late Autumn rain

After weeks of sowing “in a cloud of dust”, weekend rainfall has brought Victorian growers renewed optimism.

Farm hand Jack Hucker and farmer Andrew Slater on Andrew’s property at Corack. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Crop growers are feeling more optimistic about the season ahead after a weekend of widespread rain.

Prior to last Thursday, much of Victoria’s Wimmera and Mallee had received barely of drop of rain all month.

Charlton grower Jon Whykes said he had slowed down from what would normally be a “frenetic pace” at this time of year because he was planting “in a cloud of dust”.

Then on Thursday and Friday, the rain finally started to fall, bringing a total of 17mm to the Charlton area over the weekend.

“(Before the rain) there was a lot of grain shot, but it was very slow and lethargic, so (the rain) will give them a little bit more vigour,” Mr Whykes said.

Charlton grower Jon Whykes, pictured with dog Cleo, was sowing “in a cloud of dust” until last weeks’ rain. Picture: Andy Rogers

At Corack, west of Charlton, farmer Andrew Slater said he was relieved to finally get some rain.

“We had 18mm at the end of April, and that was the last decent rainfall we had,” he said.

“We have been very dry.”

Mr Slater had only 10 per cent of his crop left to plant when 7-9mm that fell on his property on Thursday.

The rain had been “very satisfactory” on lighter soils, but it was “barely enough” on heavier soils, he said.

There was still “a gulf” between the dry topsoil layer on his farm and a reservoir of sub soil moisture, but if follow-up rain could join the layers up, Mr Slater was hopeful he would grow a decent crop this year.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll grow some form of a crop. I’m not saying it’s going to be a huge crop, but if we can join it up I’m pretty confident we’ll have something to harvest,” Mr Slater said.

Birchip grower John Ferrier says the rain is enough to get crops established. Picture: Zoe Phillips

At Birchip, farmer and Birchip Cropping Group chairmanJohn Ferrier said half of his sowing program of canola, vetch, lentils, barley, and wheat was “quite dry” and struggling to come out of the ground until last week’s rain.

“It’s really good timely rain,” he said.

“The crops don’t need a lot of moisture at this time of year, but getting them out of the ground is highly important.

“This just gives us a little bit of an opportunity to get the crops up and established before the spring comes and they start using more moisture.”

Mr Ferrier said growers had “the possibility of having quite a good season” due to high subsoil moisture levels, but yields would now be dependent on spring rainfall.

The total area planted to crops in Australia is expected to increase to a massive 23.48 million hectares this season — 0.3 per cent up on last year — but harvest totals are expected to be lower due to the dry forecast, according to Rabobank's winter crop outlook.

The area planted in Victoria and Western Australia is expected to fall slightly, but more hectares are forecast to be sown in NSW, South Australia and Queensland compared to last year.

The area planted to moisture-loving canola is forecast to be down 8.4 per cent nationally on last season, while thousands of extra hectares devoted instead to wheat, barley and pulses, which are more tolerant of dry conditions.