Kristin Murdock, Naracoorte Community News

With harvest in the mid to lower south east normally starting slightly later than other areas in the state, continual rain and cold weather hasn’t interrupted harvest – yet.

“We generally have good yields, and I would expect this year’s season to be above average with most crops still ripening,” James Heffernan, agronomist from Nutrien Lucindale said.

“We have been supported by good spring rains and the issue at harvest might be the logistics of getting around rainfall events while successfully getting the crop off.

James said the area had seen similar plantings to most years; wheat, barley, canola and beans.

“Most growers will be looking to windrow canola soon,” he said.

“This area tends to have a long harvest in normal years so the effect of the weather might see the possibility of quality issues.”

“The wet year has brought about increased disease issues, particularly in beans.”

This observation is echoed by Casey Lodewyk who farms at Padthaway with her partner, Brent and parents, Bradley and Krysteen McElroy.

“We have seen a lot of chocolate spot in our faba beans due to the increased rain,” Casey said.

“Luckily, we have managed to get onto our paddocks to spray so have been able to control it fairly well and haven’t needed to use aerial spraying.

The McElroys and Lodewyks sow a variety of other crop types including wheat, grapes and irrigated Phalaris along with 14 hectares of sugar peas.

“This is the first year we have grown sugar peas, so it will be interesting,” Casey said. “They should be ready for harvest a few weeks after the beans.”

One advantage of the wet weather has meant less irrigation requirements, with crops only requiring two waterings so far.

“We will still water through to late December,” Casey said. “But, we have watered up to 10 times before, so the outlook is good for the underground levels.”

“The higher-than-average rain has been good for our pastures but the extra disease pressures mean input costs really add up. We are also worried about frost on our grapes which is very unusual for this time of year. More rain could possibly split the berries.”

The family have automatic sprinklers ready to deal with frost as soon as the temperature dips to one degree.

Casey says she has never before known these to be needed at this time of year while her father, Bradley, says he only recalls it happening once.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.