Winter crops thrive at Derby

Winter crops are thriving for this Derby farmer, as the region awaits another 10mm of forecast rain this week.

Derby cropping farmer Glen Bunnett finished spreading urea on Monday morning just as follow-up rain started to arrive.

He was hoping to take advantage of the front forecast this week, which could deliver up to 10mm of rain.

Glen Bunnett with his canola crop at Derby. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Despite dry conditions in much of Victoria, Glen said his region had been blessed with handy rainfall and he was pleased with how the winter crops were looking.

“We have had 123mm from April to June this year. Last year we had 168mm for the same time frame,” he said.

Glen said additional rain this week would certainly boost the winter crops. He would continue to spread more urea later next week after the rain had passed.

Sourcing urea hasn’t been a challenge this season and the purchase price was about $640 a tonne when he secured it. However, the price to purchase now was closer to $700 a tonne.

Glen grows wheat, barley, canola, legumes, beans and vetch and runs first-cross ewes.

“We knew this rain was coming and the crops need it, so we have had a chance to get some urea out,” he said.

A wheat crop at Derby. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“Now we are just hoping the spring is going to be as good as they (Bureau of Meteorology) say it is,” he said.

Even though it is dry across many parts of Victoria, he said his crops experienced one of the best seasons in the past five years.

“You don’t have to go far from here; you can only go 40km north or west, and the season isn’t as good. We are in a little spot that seems to have been fortunate with the rain,” he said.

And while farmers were wanting rain he said the logistics of getting on the paddocks to apply inputs was still feasible given the fact it wasn’t too wet.

Glen said he was really happy with his Blazer canola and it was the second year he had grown that particular variety.

It was sown into relatively dry conditions but had benefited from recent rain.

From Christmas Day until January his property received 170mm of rain. Then it was dry until the end of May.

“It was dry sowing for us. We had 1mm in March and 10mm in early April,” he said.