BANKS will continue to support farmers beyond this season despite some grain quality issues throughout the State.
Just when most grain growers were thinking the year would end on a financial high, with a bumper season, last week's storms shredded those thoughts.
But while grain quality may not be as high, banks are suggesting the high yields may save farmers.
Westpac Agribusiness head of grain WA Chris Moore said it was a little too early to know exactly what the full impact would be from the rain but Westpac was committed to its customers.
"We made the commitment to farmers last year and while it was for the 2011 season, it was really tied in with having good strategies with each of our customers for a number of years," Mr Moore said.
"While the rain is potentially a slight setback there is nothing in that which would impact on the two, three or four year strategies we have with those customers.
"We are confident we will continue to be able to support our customers."
He said quality was expected to be down due to the heavy showers but the strong yields should make up for the low quality and low grain market prices.
"When we spoke with customers earlier this year we worked out what average yields and average prices would be," he said.
"So going into this year we didn't have huge expectations for it to be a fantastic year.
"We took the conservative view on a longer term outcome."
Bankwest agricultural economist Peter Rowe said it was unfortunate the rain had caused lower grain quality but overall the harvest was still positive for farmers.
"Having looked at the grain quality and the grain prices as they were in September, if we had achieved the yields which are coming in with the prices which were available, then the results would be life-changing," Mr Rowe said.
"Unfortunately we have seen quality come off but the early grain which has come in is very positive.
"We saw 85 per cent of wheat hit milling grades and we are seeing 80pc of barley achieving malt but now we are seeing issues with protein and issues with falling numbers."
He said Bankwest still believed most farmers would be able to make a profit this year.
National Australia Bank State manager of agribusiness Andrew Clark, warned farmers should be prepared for a lower than expected cash flow.
"Obviously the rain we had last week and in the last couple of months has compounded the quality issue," Mr Clark said.
"It is a bit early to assess their situation but we are hopeful high yields will help with the lower quality and price issues.
"A lot of people are going to end up with a lot of tonnages but they may not end up with the amount of cash flow they originally expected."
He said farmers also needed to be aware of the probability of higher input costs for next year with a considerable amount of spraying needed to be done after harvest.
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