Rain boosts crops at Raywood

Dusty Pascoe from Raywood says he counts himself as fortunate. He is farming in one of the regions that has benefited from handy rainfall.

Dusty Pascoe from Raywood, north of Bendigo, says he counts himself as fortunate.

He is farming in one of the regions that has benefited from handy rainfall and is enjoying a season that is arguably better than last year.

In the past two rain events, last week, he emptied 22mm out of the gauge.

“We are expecting more rain this week,” he said.

“We are very fortunate ... we have been getting falls of 10mm or so every few weeks.”

Dusty said the recent rain had set things up well for his winter cropping and grazing operation.

A crop of wheat at Dusty Pascoe’s property north of Bendigo. Picture: Zoe Phillips

His farm comprises 70 per cent winter crops and the balance lambs.

Grazing crops are used to help finish the lambs, also the early grazing can assist with any mitigation of frost damage.

“We have been feeding our crops urea to match the seasons, and it has been a good start,” he said.

In addition some fungicide and broadleaf sprays have gone out to reduce pest and disease pressure.

“The aim is to preserve the yield potential we have,” he said.

Dusty is growing wheat, oats, barley, canola and faba beans.

The oats are for export-quality oaten hay, and there has been plenty of demand in recent times for fodder stocks.

In comparing this season with last he said this year was better. It wasn’t so wet under foot and the crops and lambs were doing well.