WHETHER or not winter crop forecasts for local producers come to fruition hinges solely on imminent rainfall.
The autumn break period has nearly come to an end with no significant rainfall, forcing farmers to scramble and alter their usual strategies.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Wangaratta region had 26mm of rain in April and 3mm of rainfall so far in May, which farmers say is not near enough to sustain their cropping plans.
AG Warehouse agronomist Bec Bingley, based in Wangaratta, said the autumn break has been very frustrating, with the lack of rain seeing many farmers change up tactics to ensure they have a productive yield come spring.
“Broadacre producers are not worried at the moment but certainly not happy with how the season has panned out,” Ms Bingley said.
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“As an agronomist, I have had to help farmers change their seed variety to suit the conditions due to the lack of rainfall in the form of dry seeding and a later yield.
“The long-range forecast shows little to no rain until July which is concerning.
“No one knows when significant rainfall will come, but for now it’s a waiting game.
“Farmers overseas have experienced a very dry and unproductive season which means if local farmers can get off the ground, this will maintain or increase cereal prices and demand in Australia and locally come October.
“But for now we really are in limbo and it’s simply a waiting game.
“Tactics have been put into place with current conditions as farmers have dry seeded a portion of the farm and hold off with the remainder of sowing until rain arrives so there is moisture in the subsoil to apply seed in a better environment.
“Looking forward, crops will be harvested later than usual this year due to a slow start with the overall yield hinging on rainfall in the coming months.”
The bureau has forecast rainfall this Thursday and Friday with totals between 10-20mm, however, follow-up rain is needed for farmers to get their crops off the ground.
