AFTER having frost damage his crops for the past six years, Bute graingrower James Venning has taken advantage of early April rain and sown winter wheat varieties for the first time.
Mr Venning began to sow 66 hectares of DS Bennett and Longsword wheat on April 6, after about 25 millimetres of rain arrived on April 4.
"The idea is to sow winter wheat early and build biomass, and dodge the frost window. It will not flower until late spring," he said.
"Even if it still gets frosted, there will be enough biomass to cut it for hay.
"The rain timing was finally right this season and we made a bit of crystal ball prediction about the season, so we gave it a go."
The early-sown winter wheat crops are a part of a 4200ha program that also includes canola, barley, lentils and spring wheat.
Canola was sown this week and spring wheat varieties are planned for just after Anzac Day, depending on rainfall, with lentils and barley to follow.
Stored soil moisture is at 45 per cent, almost double when compared with the same time last year.
Mr Venning said 25mm of rain on February 1 helped "significantly".
"Soil moisture is higher this year even though in 2018, we had 75mm in November that got the crops through a tough season last year," Mr Venning said.
"During 2019 harvest, we had no rain at all but we have managed to get a few solid days of rain earlier this year - so it has made a difference," he said.
"We have never sown wheat this early and an early April start is what dictates being able to."
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Mr Venning said winter wheat crops had shown "really promising" establishment.
"The crops look really good and I hope the idea works well," he said.
"Heavy soils are struggling a bit and need rain soon but sandy soil crops are booming."
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