Crop conditions in Cowra this year are the best since 2000 with the district’s soil holding a full profile of moisture after recent rain, according to a local agronomist.
Peter Wilson, agronomist at Lachlan Fertilizers, said soil moisture is setting up local crops well for the spring harvest.
“Farmers are currently expecting average to above average yield given we see timely rainfall in spring,” he said.
Cowra had above average rainfall last month, recording 63.4mm compared to the district’s June average of 40mm.
In May Cowra had close to average rainfall, taking 43.4mm, slightly below the month’s 46.3mm average.
Mr Wilson said water is running out of hills and springs have opened up throughout the district.
Sowing was completed in mid June after beginning in mid April, and crops have emerged well, Mr Wilson said.
“Conditions were pretty well perfect for sowing. It was a matter of getting it in between the rainfall events.”
Wet conditions have enabled an even crop establishment in the Cowra district.
“We’ve probably seen the best [crop] establishment we’ve seen in a number of years given the additional moisture at sowing,” he said.
“If anything we are seeing areas of water logging at the moment due to the amount of rainfall seen in the last 48 hours.”
The biggest risk for farmers now is water logging to both canola and wheat crops.
Paddocks have low weed pressure at the moment due to the widespread use of pre emergent herbicides in both canola and wheat production systems this season.
Farmer Graham Wallace, of ‘Melrose’ near Morongla, said conditions are near perfect for this time of year.
“All the crops have had a perfect start to this year,” he said.