Cowra’s primary producers are being told they need to remain confident that their winter season can be put back on track.
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The Department of Primary Industries says NSW is currently experiencing widespread drought conditions, with approximately 50 per cent of the state is in the Drought Watch category, 33 per cent in Drought Onset and 15 per cent in Drought.
Elders Cowra Agronomist, Peter Watt, said its been business as usual for the region.
“The rain has been variable. South of Cowra has been good, north of Cowra and towards Canowindra has been less so,” he said.
“But 95 per cent of the crop is in the ground, so people have committed to sowing canola, wheat, forage crops and pastures.
“Assuming we get a good rain front next week, or in the couple of weeks, we are certainly well placed to get the crop in on time to come out of it with reasonably good yields.
Mr Watt said there are a number of pests and threats to crop health that farmers need to be aware of.
“We’ll need to be mindful of insect pests, slugs, as some of this crop is slow to come away in cooler conditions. We just need to be mindful, we don’t want pests attacking those vulnerable young plants,” he said.
Mr Watt said for stock producers, it was now a matter of ongoing management and reflecting on stock numbers.
“People are taking all sorts of different approaches to selling down but in a tough winter you’ve got to lighten off or be prepared to feed,” he said.
”It’s been a tough season for livestock but people have either sold, or have maintained stock on farm with supplementary feeding.
“With record stock prices it’s (selling) been an easy and profitable way to dispose of stock.
“The stock have done relatively well, where people have kept their feeding regimes up, there’s not been significant wet weather challenges to stock health,” he said.
Mr Watt said May’s mild conditions had been good for producers.
“Some of the germination has been a bit patchy and indifferent, we just haven't had a constant even run with moisture, we are continually hanging on for the next rain event,” he said.
“Which is a bit wearing on nerves for everyone because we haven't had that decent rain to give people a level of comfort.
“I just keep saying back the area, as it wets up that will give some people relief from the feed cart.”