Victorian farmers deliver 195,600 tonnes to GrainCorp depots

Cropping farmers are assessing the early results of harvest. We jumped in the paddock with them to see how the crops are performing so far.

Harvest is ramping up in Victoria, with farmers delivering 195,600 tonnes to GrainCorp receival sites in the past week and 5,155,400 tonnes throughout the eastern states.

Figures filtering in show strong results in northern NSW due to good seasonal conditions and farmers have reported average yields of 5t/ha to 6t/ha averages for dryland wheat.

However, it is expected to be a different outcome in southern NSW and Victoria where dry seasonal conditions, frost and hail have taken a toll on crops.

There were mixed sentiments across the Wimmera Mallee after frosts and an October storm, with reports of some canola crops yielding 2t/ha. Several farmers had active headers in paddocks, while others would wait another fortnight before starting their programs.

Waitchie farmer Carol Fitzpatrick amid the start of the 2024 harvest. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Waitchie farmer Carol Fitzpatrick started harvest on their barley crops one week ago, and expected to finish their program before Christmas.

They have barley, wheat, lentils and peas this season. She said their summer spraying was business as usual.

“It was looking very dry here up until mid-August. So, whatever we get is better than what we’d thought we’d get,” she said.

“Some people in the area could tell quite drastically that they had been frosted. Our lentils were frosted but they’ve regrown, some people have baled their lentils or barley.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said her mother-in-law’s barley crop went 2.5t/ha.

“But ours has been frosted a bit, we’ve only just started here so we aren’t sure how it’s going yet,” she said.

“The smallest decision you make at the start of the season can impact your whole year. The crops that are doing slightly better than others were put in early, because it got cold early”.

Ms Fitzpatrick said their crops had grown on moisture from the summer rain.

Warakirri Cropping farm manager Jono Robinson, of Donald, with his Kelpie Meggy. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Heading south to Donald, Warakirri Cropping farm manager Jono Robinson said they had been hit by frost, like most farmers in the region, but remained optimistic.

They started on canola one week ago, and also had wheat, barley and lentils.

“[Canola] is not as good as the past couple of years, but for the amount of rainfall we’ve had it’s not too bad,” he said.

They recorded about 200mm of rain for the growing season, but usually had about 350mm.

He said they had started two weeks ahead of schedule due to the crop’s readiness, and hoped to finish by Christmas.

Mr Robinson expected the lentils to be the most profitable after benefitting from 20mm of rain in October.

Matthew Madden who farms east of Moree in northern NSW expects to complete harvest on his property by the end of the weekend.

He said results were good and harvest was early. Typically he wouldn’t start until the first week of November.

Wheat crops have returned an average yield of 5t/ha to 6t/ha and protein was down and screenings came in at acceptable levels.

“There has just been a bit of a dilution of protein that you often see with the higher yields,” he said.