LOCAL canola producers are coming to the pointy end of the season as harvesting fast approaches with average yields expected despite receiving only half the average rainfall this year.
An increased price climb to $768/tonne last week - settling at $743 for Victoria - has been welcomed, but is still well off the dizzy highs of 2021 when canola was commanding $1000/tonne.
Andrew Russell, managing director and a shareholder of Lilliput AG - a sister company of the family–owned farming and seed cleaning business Baker Seeds - is expecting an average canola harvest, despite a lack of rainfall and back-to-back heavy frosts.
Mr Russell, who is also chair of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) southern panel, farms around 2500 hectares just south of Rutherglen with crops this year of canola, faba beans and wheat.
“This year has been a mixed bag when it comes to weather conditions and a lack of rainfall,” he said.
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“We have been hit hard by frosts that have continued late into the year, right up to late October.
“These conditions have certainly had an effect on our crops this year, however, we are remaining optimistic that our overall yields will remain at an average which will prove to be a positive outcome.
“I predict a better harvest this year than what we expected which is positive for our business.
“On another positive note, canola prices have lifted over the last few weeks which is great timing for us and local farmers alike.
“Unfortunately, our pasture paddocks have been terrible like everyone else in the region, with cattle producers and the dairy industry still feeding out hay.
“Right now, our team have commenced preparations for the upcoming harvest season by cleaning out silos, sheds and servicing our headers, chaser bins, tractors and trucks.
“Considering our rainfall totals for the year, we have grown some handy crops with all things considered.
“Recent rainfall has certainly come in the nick of time to assist in finishing crops prior to harvesting.
“We are very lucky in this region to have the crops we have grown considering other parts of the state are in a bad way.”
Local severe frosts over the last four months have impacted crop development, stunted plant growth and in some cases, wiped out crops completely causing devastation to the livelihood of some local farmers.
“We have had some frost damage, but the incidents have been isolated,” Mr Russell said.
“We do not want to be seeing any more frosts this late in the year and they are not welcome for local farmers who are all in preparation for harvest.
“We may see minor damage caused from the recent frosts, but the weather outlook is looking positive which is exactly what we are after.
“Right now, preparations are on track as is our scheduled harvest which will be mid-November where the harvest season will go full steam ahead.
“The overall harvest will paint a clear picture on where we sit by early December.
“We are two weeks ahead of schedule this year because of the lack of rainfall and that will mean things will be wrapped up before Christmas.”
