Mallee and Wimmera lead Vic in ‘fantastic’ cropping season

Widespread rain across western Victoria has topped up soil moisture but hail may have damaged some crops. See the rain totals for winter.

Hail across the Mallee and Wimmera may have damaged some crops on Monday. Photo: Else Kennedy

Heavy rain across western Victoria on Monday has topped up soil moisture ahead of what is tipped to be a bumper spring for Victorian crops.

Wimmera farmer Ryan Milgate, who grows wheat, barley, canola, lentils and vetch hay, said crops in his area were looking “fantastic” and he was “cautiously optimistic” about yield potential this season.

Mr Milgate recorded 12mm of rain on Monday, bringing his total rainfall for the season to 120mm.

But the storm wasn’t good news for all farmers, with isolated hail hitting crops from Mildura to Berriwillock.

Grain Growers Ltd chairman and Quambatook farmer Brett Hosking said some flowering canola crops may have been hurt by the storm, but as of Tuesday, damage was still being assessed.

Ryan Milgate in a crop on his farm near Minyip in October 2020. Picture: James Wagstaff

Over the three months to August 31, rain gauges across the Wimmera, Mallee and western Victoria recorded above average rainfall, putting farmers in a good position for a high-yielding year.

Hopetoun in the Mallee recorded 230 per cent of its average annual rainfall for June, July and August (170mm), while Horsham recorded 159 per cent (187mm), Mortlake 119 per cent (214mm) and Geelong 120 per cent (144mm).

In the first production forecast for the spring, IKON commodities has estimated a third consecutive above-average grain harvest of 55 million tonnes across Australia as a result of excellent growing conditions.

IKON commodities advisory consultant Josh Lawrence said the Victorian Wimmera and Mallee regions would drive an increase in wheat, barley and canola production in the state this year.

IKON estimated wheat production for Victoria at 4.9 million tonnes this year, up from 4.3 million tonnes last year.

“That is largely on the back of the improved conditions in the Victorian Mallee and Victorian Wimmera,” Mr Lawrence said.

Canola production for the year was likely to come in at 1.2 million tonnes, slightly above last year, with farmers having planted more canola to take advantage of high prices this year, Mr Lawrence said.

Meanwhile barley production was set to come in at 2.9 million tonnes, up from 2.8 million tonnes in 2021, Mr Lawrence said.

In NSW, wheat production was set to be lower than last year at 11.7 million tonnes, down from 14.5 million tonnes in 2021, due to water logging in central west NSW and Northern NSW, according to IKON.

Waterlogging in central west and northern NSW will likely lead to lower wheat and canola production across the state in comparison to last year. Photo: Neil Durning

Birchip Cropping Group senior research and extension officer Kelly Angel said a well-timed autumn break had set crops in the Wimmera and Mallee up to perform well this year.

“In most areas, with the exception of the West Wimmera, we got the break at a more desirable time (this year). That meant crops went into good moisture right from the start of sowing programs.

“It meant canola established well and on time. It also meant any of our earlier sown, longer season crops were in a good window to capitalise,” she said.

The early break was a relief for farmers in the region after a late start in 2021.

But a pattern of patchy storms rather than widespread generalised rain meant soil profiles across the region were mixed, and many farmers were looking for more rain in spring to give their crops a good finish.

“August has delivered reasonable rainfall to date, and it certainly has given a lot more confidence, (but) even on individual farms, there could be paddocks that are better positioned for the season than others are,” Ms Angel said.