WITH headers whirring into life as harvest started at Telowie, Port Germein, Baroota and Mambray Creek last week, growers across the state were feeling buoyant, but predictions of a continued run of wet weather are causing some trepidation about what impacts it will have on harvest operations.
After a dry June and July, much of the optimism stems from much-needed rainfall throughout August and September, which has helped with grain fill and been a welcome boost to late-season crop growth.
Among the first to begin harvest were brothers Ian and Stephen Mudge at Telowie.
Ian said they reapt 100 hectares of early-sown peas on Friday and Saturday, before rain stopped them in their tracks on Sunday.
He said the peas had yielded above average, with their wheat, barley and lupins also expected to yield average or above despite battling a dry end to winter and unseasonably high temperatures.
With more rain falling yesterday, Mr Mudge was unsure when they would resume, saying it would be nice to "turn the tap off" for the time being.
"The forecast of La Nina and weather feeding in from the north-west is not a real good sign for us," he said.
"There's a fair bit of moisture floating about so hopefully we can get a fair run at it and get it off before it does any damage to it."
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PIRSA's latest Crop and Pasture Report is forecasting a 7.9 million tonne harvest for SA, the largest since 2016-17, but just below the 10-year average of 8mt.
Almost 4mha of grain crops were sown, the most since 2013-14, with Primary Industries Minister David Basham saying this demonstrated continued confidence in the grains industry.
The report predicted crops in the northern Eyre Peninsula, northern Yorke Peninsula and parts of the Northern districts were expected to be below average due to dry winter conditions.
But much-needed rain in August has turned the season on its head for many growers on the Far West Coast who are about three weeks away from harvest, according to WCT Rural Ceduna branch manager Malcolm Stott.
"We were looking at a well below-average year before we had 60-75mm of rain in August," he said.
"That turned things from bushels to bags. Most guys would have an average or above-average year now.
"Smoky Bay and Haslam are looking good, Ceduna's alright, while there's some places not looking too flash from Charra through to Bookabie."
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Elders Kingscote agronomist Marie Gifford covers Kangaroo Island and said there was a lot of positivity for what the December harvest would bring.
"Everything should go average for sure and there's potential for above-average unless something drastic happens," she said.
More than 30mm fell at Kingscote at the weekend and Ms Gifford said they had been getting good falls during the past month.
Nutrien Tintinara agronomist Ben Farmer said there was very high yield potential in the Upper South East, with rain falling at the right times throughout the year and good biomass in crops.
He said wheat and barley yields of 4-5t/ha could be expected when harvest started in late November and early December.
"A bit more rain in the next week, then some fine weather would be ideal," Mr Farmer said.
"They're talking a La Nina season though, so there's a fair chance of above-average rain in spring and summer.
"Making hay might be a battle, but I don't think you'd find too many people who'd wish the rain away."
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