Dry harvest but rain needed for summer crop plantings

The Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) December Grains Report estimates the State’s winter crop production at 10.16 million tonnes - down about 10 per cent on last year’s crop.

"Harvest activities across the State have progressed generally uninterrupted - contrasting with the two previous wet harvest years – bringing about one of the earliest harvest finishes in recent years," said DPI Technical Specialist Oils and Pulses Don McCaffery.

"Good rain is now desperately needed for the summer crop plantings.

"We need rainfall to allow the bulk of the forecast sorghum crop to be sown and for further sowings of sunflowers and mungbeans.

"Early summer crop plantings struggling under moisture stress also need relief."

Mr McCaffery said winter crop production of all major crops was down on 2011 except for canola – which was up about one-third.

"Overall yields for all crops have been variable, with crops on well maintained fallows and those sown on time performing above expectations given the lack of late winter and spring rainfall for much of the State," Mr McCaffery said.

"Low protein in cereals was universal across much of the State.

"Canola oil contents were assisted by mild spring temperatures and have generally been average to slightly better.

"The cooler conditions through spring in many regions have impacted on chickpeas with many growers reporting lower than expected yields."

NSW winter crop production estimates (‘000 tonnes)

Mr McCaffery said the dry spring and early summer has had a major impact on the planting intentions of the NSW summer crop.

"Current estimates are for the sowing of 534,700 hectares, not including rice, which is down 4 per cent on the October forecast – and 12 per cent down on last year’s harvest area of 606,794 ha.

"Any dryland crops sown in late September and early October have continued to struggle, with many having patchy establishment and now lower than ideal plant populations.

"With no useful rain over the past six weeks many growers did not get the chance to plant intended areas of dryland cotton and are still waiting for rain to allow further sowings of sorghum, sunflowers and mungbeans.

"Dryland cotton area is down 76 per cent on the 2011/12 crop.

"As the sowing window for cotton is now closed, the focus is on shorter season crops like sunflowers, mungbeans and sorghum if significant rain comes in the next two to three weeks."

A copy of the DPI December Grains Report is available.

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