Teamwork shines during harvest at Marnoo
A partnership between a grandfather and granddaughter is a winning combination in the Wimmera, where their lentils are proving to be a top crop this year.
A partnership between grandfather and granddaughter is a winning combination for harvest in the Wimmera.
Alexa Cameron, 17, is on the header for the second year on her family’s Marnoo property, and she has been tasked with harvesting a handy crop of kelpie lentils that are set to yield up to three tonnes a hectare.
With prices sitting at about $900 a tonne, lentils are emerging as a popular commodity during this year’s winter crop harvest and promise some great results for growers.
Alexa’s grandfather, John Newall, said lentils were undoubtedly not the easiest crop to harvest, and he gave kudos to Alexa.
“We started harvesting last week, and then the rain interrupted play,” he said.
The Marnoo property had received about 18mm of rain for the week, enough to stop harvest, but it didn’t do any damage.
It was a far cry from the 140mm measured at Deniliquin but still not ideal in terms of timing.
John said legumes were essential to the rotation, and he grew them each year.
“We also grow faba beans, too,” he said.
There was still a lot of harvest to complete, and they were hoping the rain would hold off this week.
John said there was 970ha of wheat, 750ha of barley, 72ha of beans and 150ha of lentils to harvest.
“We still have a fair bit to go,” he said.
Canola yields expected to be halved at Westmere
Western District farmer Graeme McCrow usually cuts about 400 bales of hay. But this year he is cutting 2000.
Storms whip through cropping zones
A series of hit-and-miss storms have whipped through farming districts with some farmers stopping the header. While others have completely missed the rain.