Crop potential falls with farmers waiting for rain

Hopes for season-saving rain have faded in Victoria and southern NSW, with forecasts downgraded to 1 to 10mm. Farmers now face reduced yields and stock water concerns.

Hopes of season-saving rain have faded, despite a forecast front this week that farmers had hoped could rescue crops and boost yields.

Farmers were hoping for up to 25mm of rain on Wednesday. However, disappointing downgrades now show a range of 1mm to 10mm for many of the farming districts in Victoria.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a 90 per cent chance of rain for Bendigo, with falls of 2mm to 10mm. Falls of up to 10mm for Horsham were also forecast on Wednesday, along with southwesterly winds of 35 to 55km/h. Kerang was forecast to receive 1mm to 10mm on Wednesday as well.

As the season dries up, farmers have begun delivering grain to GrainCorp depots across the eastern states, with 200 tonnes recorded in Victoria, 46,700 tonnes in New South Wales, and 537,000 tonnes in Queensland.

A GrainCorp spokesperson said limited rain in recent weeks had created a mixed picture for southern NSW and Victoria. The Northern Mallee had recorded its first barley receivals.

Farmers were hoping for rain this week to revive crops. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Southern NSW farmer Alan Brown of Borambola was expecting to see rain at around midnight on Tuesday but said it was all getting too late.

“There are people in the eastern parts of the Riverina hanging on that we will get rain and it will revive the spring but it’s nearly too late to rescue crops,” he said.

“Crop yield potential has gone through the floor and is at least 50 per cent down on what it could have been,” he said.

With canola currently trading at $786 a tonne there were some hopes that the oilseed crop might benefit from late season rain.

The front this week was hoped to save canola. However, Mr Brown said he was seeing canola being cut too.

There were also concerns about stock water if the forecasts didn’t deliver tangible rain this week.

BOM rainfall shows for the month of October so far Moe has received 73mm, Colac, 53mm, Warrnambool, 53mm, Casterton, 47mm, Hamilton, 37mm, Winchelsea, 33mm and Stawell, 15mm.