According to district agronomist Paul Parker it’s been a good season so far.

With the canola well into flower and cereal crops about to come into head the only concern on the horizon is higher than average temperatures predicted this week.

Mr Parker said it wasn’t going to be ideal for crops because they end up using a lot of moisture.

“It causes them to develop a bit quicker, which can impact on their yield to some extent,” he said.

“If it gets too hot too quickly it’ll pull the yields back, but if we can get that rain and get some mild weather continuing for a while it will benefit the pod fill on the canola and the grain fill on the cereal crops.”

The proliferation of weeds, especially grass seeds, are likely to lead to problems for farmers, especially sheep farmers, going into spring.

“But we’ve got plenty of growth and at this stage there will be a reasonable amount of silage and hay made to put away for dry seasons,” he said.

Mr Parker said some farmers would still be contemplating top dressing of nitrogen which at this stage would only go into protein.

“It’ll go into protein, it won’t increase yield, but I guess the big concern we have there is if it turns hot and dry they won’t even get the benefit out of it,” he said, adding, “so I guess those looking into that have to consider the economics of it, if it does stay dry.”

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Seasonal Conditions coordinator Ian McGowen said seasonal conditions have improved with areas of the Riverina, southern and south eastern NSW receiving above average rainfall in August.

 “Below average rainfall was confined to the northern central west and north-west, areas of the mid-north coast and the far south west,” Mr McGowen said. 

“Relative to historical records, pasture growth was average to above average across most of NSW, with pasture growth maintained in the south and in coastal areas, and improved in the Riverina and southern central west. 

“Supplementary feeding has ceased in many areas, although it remained necessary in some areas of the tablelands, eastern Riverina and coast due to slow pasture growth. 

“Rainfall during August maintained or improved winter crop prospects in most areas, but further rainfall in late September to early-mid October will ensure good conditions for grain fill.” 

Mr McGowen said early sown crops are well advanced, although not as advanced as last year, but late sown crops have been slow to develop, and frost still remains a risk.

 “Crop growth and yield potential for cereals and canola are generally average to above average across most of the southern and central areas. In some areas of the far south west, the far western Riverina and the western margins of the central west yields will be reliant on follow up rainfall,” Mr McGowen said.

 “Crop growth and yield potential is also generally good across the north west to the east of the Newell Highway, but is lower in the west due to very late sowing and limited subsoil moisture. Yields in this area are dependent upon good follow up rainfall occurring.

 “Dual purpose winter crops and forage crops have been providing good production, particularly on the tablelands and slopes, but have now been locked up for grain recovery.

 “If the current strong El Niño event has a greater influence on rainfall and frost incidence during the remainder of September and early-mid October, crop yields may not reach their full potential.

 “Fortunately, warm sea surface temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean have provided sources of moisture that have mitigated the effects of the El Niño to date. If this pattern continues through spring, above average winter crop yields and pasture growth are expected in most areas.”