The harvest season is now well and truly underway in the Weddin Shire.
Headers and grain trucks can be seen all over the shire as the season gets into full swing.
Plenty of contractors and their machines can also be seen in Grenfell as they try to get local work given the less-than-expected size of the harvest in the north and north-west of the state.
It is, however, a difficult time for local producers given the very dry conditions that have taken hold of the area since August of this year.
According to James Ingrey – agronomist with local grain and produce merchants Lachlan Fertilizers Rural – the harvest “this year will be substantially less that last year”. James has stated that in comparison the 2008 harvest was OK due to good grain prices and reasonable yields thus ensuring a reasonable return to producers.
The reverse is more than likely to be true for the 09 season due to an extended period of hot and dry weather and the fact that all commodity prices received by the producers this year will be substantially lower due to the unexpected huge increase in the value of the Australian dollar, especially when it is compared to the American greenback. Prices are also been driven down due to the present high level of the world’s wheat’s stockpile.
James has also reported “that this year’s harvest is also unusual in that it has started earlier than in most people’s living memory due to the prevailing weather conditions”.
This is in comparison to the high expectations held by local grain producers of another reasonable year given that the period started off well with good rainfall, especially from March through to the end of July.
However, those hopes were dashed upon the rocks of disappointment as the months from August, September through to October and November of this year turned out to be extremely dry with some of the lowest rainfalls in recorded history.
Another factor that has added to an already large problem with the weather conditions for cropping was the out-of-season frost on the 8th of October this year. It certainly exacerbated an already parlous situation facing producers.
In a quick summery of this year’s prospects for grain crops James stated that “Canola will do slightly better this year than 2008 in yield and oil although it will still be below an economically sustainable level of production due to the high Aussie dollar.
“Wheat will realize below average yields this season. Crops didn’t produce as good as they looked, which again reflected the good start to the season but poor finish.
This, coupled with the impact of frost – and the Crown Rot disease - has resulted in a poor yield result.
“Lupins and Barley crop yields have been strong but their prices have been lower as they have been have been dictated by the low price of wheat”.
However, there is good news for some amongst the gloom and doom.
The relative health of the Livestock sector has seen good prices maintained for those who have diversified.
Geoff McClelland from Grenfell stock and station agent, C.J. Anderson, has reported that stock sales for the past three months are very encouraging.
He states that the lamb market has been very good. Numbers have lightened off and the future for lamb prices is predicted to rise.
Lamb prices per head over hook over the last three months have been: August - $105.40
September - $101.32
October - $102.21
In continuing good news Geoff states that “Mutton prices haven’t peaked as yet with the market being very buoyant”.
Prices for August per head over hook are - $69.50 – September $71.50 and October $75.76.
He also reports that cattle prices have not yet peaked to the extent of other meats with August prices for steers being around $1.80, heifers $1.70 and old cows being around the $1.30 mark lightweight.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter