Water allocations: Lachlan Valley, Murray Valley cotton and rice plantings expected to increase

Summer crop plantings are looking strong, as water allocations hit a 20-year best.

The best water allocations for 20 years have seen a surge in summer crop plantings.

And despite a slow start due to cool weather, rice and cotton crop growth is now starting to catch up, pointing to a good season ahead.

General security water allocations range from 116 per cent in the Lachlan Valley to 110 in the Murray Valley, and 100 per cent in the Murrumbidgee Valley.

It means cotton plantings have doubled year-on-year in the southern region, up to 85,000 hectares according to Cotton Info regional development officer Kieran O’Keeffe.

He said cotton prices of more than $700 a bale combined with the big water allocations had encouraged growers to plant greater areas to cotton.

“We had a colder than ideal start and a month to six weeks ago, it looked like we were going to have a low production year,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

“The past few weeks have turned the crops around and they are looking magnificent.”

The cold start has also affected rice plantings, which this year are estimated to be about 65,000 hectares.

Ricegrowers Association of Australia president Rob Massina said all summer crops had felt the impact of a cool spring but warm weather in coming months was critical to good yields.

Mr Massina said loyalty to growing rice, and its ability to fit into a double-cropping program after oats or canola, meant many had turned back to the crop this season with good water allocations.

“It’s the first time in 20 years that the Murray has had a full water allocation,” Mr Massina said.

“Two years ago, the industry grew a 53,000-tonne crop and this year it looks like it will be 650,000 tonnes or more.

“Growers have taken the opportunity to use their increased allocations to increase their plantings of rice.”

But he said rice still had strong competitors for water use, including cotton but also maize, winter crops and even livestock.

Some growers would also carry-over water allocations to be used on winter and summer crops next year.

Mr Massina said the sense of optimism in towns throughout southern NSW was strong, especially with companies like SunRice recruiting workers when in past years, they had been forced to shed staff numbers due to small crops.