Disease woes on radar with constant wet

Agrilink consultant Mick Faulkner, Penwortham, said the recent rain’s impact in the region varied, but there were major concerns for lodging, nitrogen deficiency and humidity making conditions prime for disease.

He said lentils were particularly susceptible to the wet, and several crops were starting to yellow. With farmers being unable to get out to spray paddocks and fungicides being in short supply, septoria was one disease to watch.

“We haven’t seen septoria like this in 30 years,” he said.  “We’re already anticipating it could be a problem next year.”

Waterlogging was also an issue in the Lower South East, with an above-average winter rain following two dry years.

Andrew Skeer at Hatherleigh said, while it was a common occurrence in the 700-millimetre annual rainfall region, they already received more than 860mm this year, including 172mm for September. He estimates about 30 per cent of his crop will have considerable damage, while almost all the crop was under water at different times.

Elders Millicent agronomist Matt Ballantyne said many paddocks in the region were being compromised by waterlogging.

On the Eyre Peninsula, hail and heavy winds had only a minor impact. Carr’s Seeds agronomist Denis Pedler, Cummins, said most of the damage was in beans, where the crops had twisted.

“Everything else doesn’t look like it’s been affected too much,” he said. “There’s very little water laying out in paddocks and the wind has helped to dry things out.”

He said windrowing should begin within a fortnight.

Upper North Farming Systems group chairman Barry Mudge, Port Germein, said the unseasonably cold weather had pushed harvest back about two weeks. It would normally start from mid-October in the region.

He said the recent storm had not created too many issues, with some slight hail damage to pulses and tall crops pushed over.