THE recent hot and dry weather has brought the harvest season forward, by as much as two weeks in some places, with earlier-sown crops generally holding on better.
Viterra has received 48,000 tonnes in the past week, taking the total South Australian harvest to 57,000 tonnes so far for the 2014-15 season.
On the Yorke Peninsula, Sam Holmes, Holmes Farm Consulting, Maitland, said the harvest would be underway from next week, up to two weeks earlier than usual.
"The warm weather definitely brought things on," he said.
"We're still waiting to see if the hot weather has had a negative impact but we won't know for a couple of weeks."
He said some crops would not see much difference while the quick finish could reduce seed sizes in others.
Coorong Agricultural Services agronomist Matt Howell said harvest had started early in the Coorong.
"We've had a late start (at sowing) and an early finish," he said.
Farmers in the region are windrowing canola, and are expected to move onto barley in the next few weeks.
"Traditionally the area is windrowing in the last week of October or the first week of November, so we are probably running a week ahead," Mr Howell said.
"The hot weather has hastened the wind-rowing."
Mr Howell said the Coorong area missed out on the early rain received by much of the state.
"We missed out on the summer rainfall, and had a late slow start," he said.
"We didn't get a break until late May.
"Ideally we'd like a slower ripening process to make the most of any moisture remaining."
On the Eyre Peninsula, the high temperatures of the past few days should see harvest well and truly kick-off.
Landmark Kimba agronomist Kym Villis said there had been some action on barley and peas but the warmer days would have dried out the last of the green crops.
"There won't be many people not going from now on," he said.
He said the season had begun with some "fantastic" rain, which had set the crops up well before the dry finish.
"Given that, it is amazing how the crops have held on," Mr Villis said.
"A lot of people are looking at an average season, or even an above-average season."
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 23, 2014 issue.
Elizabeth Anderson
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
