Grain Growers northern region co-ordinator Susan McDonnell reported  planting hectares were down from last year and further reductions as some crops failed or were fed off.  

“As wheat and chickpea crops dry down in readiness for harvest growers are mindful that we may see higher than average screenings this year,” she said.

”On a positive note, recent rain over the past two weeks, while it has been too late for our winter crops, it has had a positive impact of soil moisture and with further rain predicted we could see a good start to the summer cropping program.”    

In Central Queensland over 50 per cent of the crop has been harvested.  

“Yields to date have varied enormously, with the best results on the northern highlands from the earlier planted crops that received good follow up rain,” she said. “These crops produced yields of 4.2t/ha for wheat and 3t/ha for chickpea, an excellent result from such a dry year.”

However, for the later planted crops and those that missed rain during May, it was a very different story and yield results have been disappointing. On the Darling Downs and southern Queensland there have been mixed results, particularly in the west of the district that planted on limited moisture, had limited follow up rain and massive damage caused by kangaroos.

Much of northern part of Central NSW had a disappointing finish, with only some “pockets” expected to produce average yields.

“For most of the area it has been a dismal result with failed crops and crops having already been fed off,” Mrs McDonnell said. “In addition, frost wiped out about 80 percent of the canola in that region.”