Despite a lack of rain across many parts of the region, most growers are handling the season remarkably well, a central west agronomist says.
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“Everyone knows that exceptionally dry seasons are always possible, so growers just simply accept it as best as they can and try to focus on the things that can be controlled,” agronomist Ryan Pratten, from Muldoon Pratten Ag Consulting said.
“It has been particularly difficult for the growers that were affected significantly by the waterlogging experienced last season.” he said.
While it was a record breaking dry winter, most growers were able to plant all of their winter crops Mr Pratten said.
“However, some growers weren't able to to plant everything and there are areas that had a staggered germination and patchy plant establishment due to the dry autumn,” he said.
Mr Pratten, who services the Narromine and Warren districts said most of the canola, barley and wheat are now into the grain fill phase and the chickpeas are still flowering.
“All crops are are now suffering moisture stress as they pull moisture up from depth to try and satisfy the high water demands of the crop during grain fill,” he said.
Mr Pratten said the rainfall varied across the district as always, but Trangie Research Station (as a guide) has had 55 millimeters of rain since the start of April.
“The biggest fall was 14mm, so yes there hasn't been anything substantial. Significant yield increases would be seen in the chickpeas with any rain in the near future and well as improved grain grain for all crops,” he said.
Mr Pratten said it has been particularly dry north of the Mitchell Highway this season, however it has obviously been very dry everywhere except a small area that had a bigger fall in May.
“The severe frosts experienced throughout the season have caused a significant loss of grain in the canola and some stem frost in the barley and wheat,” he said.
“This has been particularly bad where crops were sown early to maximise root growth and extract deep moisture.”
Mr Pratten said farmers would be looking for rain during grain fill in the next three week and a dry harvest.
“Improved grain prices and good marketing will also be important now,” he said.