Rains continue, watering seeds of hope

Rains continued throughout the Wheatbelt over the past week, as one of the earliest starts to seeding in recent memory continues to gather momentum.

The Grains Industry Association of WA crop report said generous rains in March and April in most areas laid the foundation for at least average season potential.

GIWA consultant Alan Meldrum said while not guaranteeing any outlook concerning production potential, these abundant early rains effectively removed all prospects of a widescale crop failure.

“Aside from the northern region of the Geraldton zone (which had been dry), the break to the season need only provide around 15mm of rain for growers to be confident of strong yield potential for the 2016 season,” he said.

In terms of progress, Mr Meldrum said growers were now seeding canola in most districts, with lupins to be sown in the next week or so.

GIWA estimated around 70 per cent of the State’s total planned canola plantings was now in the ground, with the remaining 30 per cent to be sown before the end of April.

It is also expected the entire lupin area would be sown by the end of April, mostly into damp soil, but with some dry sowing likely in the northern Geraldton zone.

“Some cereal sowing will be conducted early, but this will be restricted to oats and a little barley sowing in frost-prone paddocks, and where soils are trafficable,” Mr Meldrum said.

At Bruce Rock, Leigh Strange, who farms with wife Deanne and his parents Stephen and Karen, said a further 45-45mm fell over the past week.

The latest rainfall took the year-to-date total to more than 250mm on some parts of the farm, Mr Strange said, adding that 500ha of canola was already sown after early rains, but the seeding program had now taken a back seat to spraying.

“The challenge is we’ve had so much rain the machinery is getting bogged. It is frustrating but a nice problem to have,” he said.

“I have heard there is more rain forecast around Anzac Day — we could do with some fine weather now, but I’m not complaining.”

Mr Strange said in addition to the abundant sub soil moisture, the early rains had enabled a valuable double knockdown of weeds, further boosting confidence.

This year the Strange family will plant 700ha of canola, 1800ha of Mace wheat, 1100ha of Scope barley and 120ha of Williams oats.

Agrarian consultant Craig Topham said in the northern agricultural region some farmers were flat out and making good progress, while others were still gearing up to start.

“The area that has made the most progress is around Three Springs/Morawa and south around Carnamah and Coorow where they’ve had fantastic rains,” he said.

“Canola is 80 per cent in the ground around this strip, and in some cases is out of the ground and at the four leaf stage.

“Lupin plantings have also started in the area. There’s also a couple of paddocks of wheat that have been sown in the area,” he said.

North of Geraldton and around Mullewa there was however little action.

“There’s been very little rain. Even last week’s rains just delivered 10-15mm, which was not enough to get started,” Mr Topham said.

“Farmers in these areas are waiting for things to dry out and will start dry seeding next week.”

In the Kwinana zone, CBH zone manager Gavin Bignell said widespread early rains meant farmers were well ahead of schedule.

“In the north-eastern areas of the zone, for those areas where canola is grown, seeding is progressing well.

“Certainly around Dowerin, a lot of canola is in the ground. North of the Great Eastern Highway, all the way up to the Kalannie area — a fair bit of canola has been planted already.

He said there was a wide radius around Merredin which had enjoyed an exceptional rains, with some growers receiving as much as 200mm so far this year.

Mr Bignell said further south, around Corrigin, farmers had also made an early start.

“This area traditionally starts around the week of Anzac Day, but this year has also had an early start. A lot of farmers there have started and will probably be finishing their canola towards the end of next week,” he said.

“It’s been a really exceptional year and farmers are feeling optimistic about the season,” Mr Bignell said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Food WA’s seasonal outlook for the Wheatbelt for April to June, based on a statistical season forecast, indicates a neutral 40 to 60 per cent chance of receiving above-median rainfall.

The SSF’s longer-term outlook for May to October is also giving a neutral outlook (40-60 per cent chance of receiving above median rainfall).

WHERE THE RAIN FELL

Bencubbin: 11mm

Ballidu: 11mm

Bonnie Rock: 9mm

Cadoux: 15mm

York: 14mm

Beverley: 33mm

Quairading: 24mm

Kojonup: 15mm

Nyabing: 13mm

Williams North: 12mm

Pingelly: 21mm

Wagin: 11mm

Dumbleyung: 15mm

Kukerin: 16mm

Source: BOM weekly rainfall bulletin to 9am Tuesday.