Tasmanian growers share mixed harvest results

Wet January weather has created a stop-start scenario for farmers in Tasmania as they strip the winter crop. See how yields are shaping up.

Tasmanian winter crops are flowing into the silos with some mixed results from dryland and irrigated wheat, barley and canola.

Nathan Richardson farms at Thirlstane on the northwest coast and grows barley, wheat, maize, potatoes, and poppies alongside prime lambs and chickens.

He recently started the cereal harvest and has a mix of dryland and irrigated crops.

“The crops that have been harvested have come off with some good quality and good yield results,” he said.

Nathan Richardson on his farm at Thirlstane. Picture: Chris Kidd

Irrigated wheat crops from the island state have yielded nine to 10 tonnes a hectare.

Constant showers throughout January also meant harvest had been stalled in some parts, and farmers were waiting to get back into paddocks with the header.

“February is our biggest month for the cereal harvest,” Mr Richardson said.

Despite the wet January conditions, Tasmanian growers experienced dry conditions throughout the crucial growing months of September, October and November.

For the four months until the end of December, the main growing period, Mr Richardson’s farm received 160mm of rain. So far in January, 80mm has fallen.

“The inaccuracy of (weather) forecasting has been a bit of a talking point for growers this season,” he said.

Tasmanian growers recorded an exceptional winter crop harvest last year, and Mr Richardson said it was likely to be a repeat performance in 2024.

Meanwhile, it is estimated the poppy harvest in Tasmania is still about two weeks away.

“The poppy crops are looking good, and it has been a really good growing season in most districts,” Mr Richardson said.

Poppies growing at Cressy. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association seeds and cereals committee chairman Tom Green of Cressy said the harvest was off to a slow start because of the wet weather.

“We grow peas, poppies, potatoes, ryegrass seed, canola seed and chicory,” he said.

Mr Green said it had been a race against the weather in recent weeks to get harvest done before the rain arrived again.

“The irrigated crops are coming off well, and the dryland crop (yields) are down a bit because we didn’t have a lot of rain during spring,” he said.

“Things look greener now than they did in spring,” he said.

Tom Green of The Glen farm among flowering poppies at Cressy. Picture: Chris Kidd

Irrigated barley crops yielded from seven to nine tonnes a hectare and irrigated wheat crops had yielded around 10 tonnes a hectare.

“We are about halfway through harvest, and this coming week will be our biggest,” he said.

Mr Green also reiterated that poppy crops were looking good and he would start harvesting that crop in early February.

“Canola has been a bit hit and miss and has suffered from the weather, I think yields will be down compared to last year,” he said.

In terms of rainfall, he said that more than 100mm had fallen for the month so far.