Wheat yields impress at Burramine South

After a devastating washout in 2022, a northern Victorian farming family are seeing their best yield in decades this year.

The outcome of winter cropping for 2023 is being touted as the best in 50 years for the Lawless family at Burramine South.

Last year was a washout, with about half the crops wiped out when heavy rainfall and storms hit the property in October.

The relentless rain followed what had been a wet winter with plenty of waterlogging.

But this year, Peter Lawless and his son Nathan were thrilled with the results of their Scepter wheat, which was yielding 6 to 7 tonnes/hectare.

“I think this is the best cropping season I have experienced, and I have been doing it for 50 years,” Peter said.

Chloe Lawless pictured in a crop of wheat at Burramine South. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The Lawless family grow crops and run cattle, and Peter’s granddaughter Chloe, 13, finished school for 2023 last week and was helping out, too.

Peter said just a few days were left before harvest was wrapped up on their property.

“We have been lucky with the rain. It has held off except for a bit on Monday morning, but it held up, and harvesters were still going,” Peter said.

Despite some reports of lower protein in wheat crops, Peter said they were pleased with what was coming off overall.

“We are around 10 per cent protein, and with the good yields we are happy,” he said.

For the calendar year, the property has received 500mm of rain.

This compared with a whopping washout amount of 954mm last year.