Start to rice season shows promise
Affordable water and warm days set the stage for a thriving rice season. Farmers are hopeful with expectations for bountiful yields.
Hot weather and timely rain have created ideal conditions for the start of the rice-growing season.
Andrew and Leanne Cameron, growers from Willbriggie in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, NSW produced a record-breaking crop last season, yielding 16.3 tonnes a hectare.
And now early signs suggest this season is going to be a promising one, with their crops nearing the panicle initiation stage, approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.
There has been a run of warm temperatures of more than 30C which is considered suitable for rice growing.
Mr Cameron said that the water situation had also been manageable due to consistent rainfall, which reduced the need for irrigation.
“We’ve used less water thanks to the wet weather,” he said.
In fact, rainfall in November eliminated the need for one early-season watering, setting the crop up well.
This season, the Camerons have planted 120 hectares of rice, with excellent establishment results.
“There are plenty of great-looking crops around,” Mr Cameron said.
Jeremy Morton, a rice grower in Moulamein, NSW echoed these sentiments, describing the conditions as ideal for crop establishment.
“It’s fantastic after a few tough years,” he said.
SunRice’s updated pool price for last season’s crop was ranging between $380 and $420 a tonne and further added to grower optimism.
Mr Morton said water prices in the NSW Murray region were ranging from ) TO $110 a megalitre.
“At those prices, rice is still profitable, but like any input cost, we’d prefer it to be lower,” Mr Morton said.
Rice Growers Association president Peter Hermann shared an equally positive outlook.
Based in the Yanco Irrigation District, Mr Hermann said crops in his area were performing exceptionally well.
“Some growers don’t have a single poor patch in their fields,” he said.
It was estimated that crops were about two weeks ahead of expectations for where they should be int he season.
While Mr Hermann did not disclose the total hectares planted this season he stated that the optimal area for the market had been reached. Overall, the season is shaping up to be one of the with strong potential for rice growers.
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