IN one of the wettest and latest starts to harvest on record, farmers are shaping up for a New Year finish.
Heavy rain, floods, hail, disease and muddy, waterlogged paddocks have plagued this year’s historic season.
Agronomist Alleena Burger said Moulamein farmers had just started harvesting wheat after a late start to the season.
“I’ve been an agronomist for 25 years and this is the latest start to the season I’ve seen,” Ms Burger said, adding the rain had proved to be a challenge this year.
“Too much rain just seems absurd to be complaining about.”
Stripe rust, legume disease and the quality of barely were some of the issues associated with the rain, while access to paddocks also posed issues. Farmers have been forced to wait until they dried out before moving in equipment.
Floodwaters also affected crops in Moulamein with some paddocks completely submerged, and while it wasn’t to “the extent of Kerang”, Ms Burger said, farmers were unable to salvage crops and lost everything.
“Honestly, I think this year farmers will just be relieved when this season is over.”
Despite the wet weather, Ms Burger said yields had been promising with canola crops yielding around three tonnes per hectare, while wheat was more than five tonnes per hectare.
Last month, Mallee farmer Mark Roberts was dealt a massive blow when a hail storm caused widespread damage to his farm, near Speed.
“We lost three blocks completely and it affected three other blocks to varying degrees,” Mr Roberts said.
“If it wasn’t for the hail, this would have been by far the best year we’ve had.”
Canola, wheat and pea crops were all damaged by the storm.
Mr Roberts was insured and was thankful he would recoup some of the costs unlike those impacted by the floods.
Meanwhile, Karl Bibby, of Origin AG, is harvesting near Berriwillock.
He said cooler weather and high moisture had resulted in shorter working days this harvest with farmers unable to work around the clock.
Wet paddocks have also caused issues with machinery getting bogged.
With good yields and prices, Mr Bibby said the quality of some crops had been downgraded due to the wet weather, with lentils, wheat and barley affected.
“While we’ve had some poor quality crops and it’s been tough and straining at times, we have to be mindful of what we’ve got,” he said.
“Lots of people have lost a lot this year with floods, hail and bad weather. We are very grateful for what we’ve got.”
