SEASONAL conditions have turned sour in eastern SA and northern Vic, with frost the major culprit and recent dry weather exacerbating the problem.
While farmers in the northern Vic Mallee are still hopeful of average yields, there is unease about the severity of frost damage.
Further south, crops in the southern Mallee and northern Wimmera still remain fresh but some growers are looking to the sky for a final finishing rain.
Farm 360 agronomist Simon Craig, based in the northern Vic Mallee, said there was heavy frost damage in his local area.
He said barley looked to be particularly hard hit, while legume crops such as lentils and field peas had also been damaged.
“We will see some barley paddocks with 50 per cent losses due to frost,” he said.
“The field peas and lentils have dropped their flowers so I’d expect up to 80pc yield loss in some of the peas.”
Pinnaroo farmer Corey Blacksell said frost was also rearing its head in the SA Mallee.
“I’m not sure how severe it will all be in the final wash-up, but it will do a fair bit of damage, canola looks particularly hard hit,” he said. “I’d expect 20pc yield losses in some wheat, but barley has been the worst hit.”
But Mr Blacksell believed there would be adequate moisture to finish crops.
“It’s hard to say without knowing the full extent of the frost damage, but I’d say this area is on track for an average to slightly below-average year,” he said.
In northern SA, spray-topped barley was being reapt at Mambray Creek, while Telowie farmer Ian Mudge started harvesting peas on Monday, also after spray-topping.
He said it had been a “pretty tough season", despite a “brilliant opening” with 100 millimetres of rain. But the biggest falls since had only been about 15mm, with very little in August and September.
"Our rainfall is well below-average, about decile two or three," he said. "We've also had a couple of frosts; it's only the second time since 1938 that we've had that."
Mr Mudge said more than 320 hectares had been affected by frost to some degree.
But he was still hopeful of close to average yields, with peas going about two tonnes/ha.
"I was surprised how well the peas went, but they were dry-sown before the break. Anything sown a fortnight later would probably have half the yield," he said.
"Summer spraying and retaining moisture have helped get us through this season.”
Mr Mudge was expecting harvest to be in full swing within a fortnight, with 30-plus degree days forecast.
On the Eyre Peninsula, Warramboo cropper Jared Sampson said wind and hot weather had started to turn crops, particularly barley on lighter soils.
“We should start harvest here towards the end of the month, if this warm weather continues,” he said.
Despite minimal rain recently, Mr Sampson was relatively happy with the crops they had produced.
“We can’t complain, as further north are having a much tougher season,” he said. “We should still have a reasonable year, slightly below average, but reaping nonetheless.”
