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 National crop prospects lift on rain in WA 

National crop prospects lift on rain in WA

10 Jul, 2009 06:02 AM
SOAKING showers throughout most of the WA wheatbelt this week has put WA on track to produce a substantial crop this year.

The figures should be on the higher end of CBH's projection of between eight and 11 million tonnes if forecast rain is delivered this month.

In fact, if the forecasters are right, July should deliver substantial rains to all areas, albeit less for the Central Wheatbelt region.

And the Bureau of Meteorology has weighed in with a three month forecast from July to September which says there's a 75 per cent chance the Wheatbelt will record between 100mm and 200mm of rain.

That will suit Salmon Gums farmer Andrew Longmire, who established a 4000ha program.

"We started dry sowing in May and finished on June 24," he said. "The early sown crops are all up and looking okay thanks to an above average June which gave us 52mm.

"We had good summer rain and the moisture we have received in the last couple of weeks has connected with the subsoil moisture so that has been a big bonus.

"We'll start spraying as soon as we can get on."

At Mt Madden, regular rain events during June has local farmer Owen Brownley smiling.

"It was a bit patchy before the June rain and we dry sowed in April and May," he said. "All that is up and looking good although the canola went in late and is just germinating.

"But we're happy with the damp conditions and depending on soil type, a lot of what we've had has connected with subsoil moisture.

"Everybody around here is happy at this point but we still need good rains."

One area that was looking ordinary was around Lake Grace but growing season rain totaling 60mm has changed all that.

According to local farmer Alex Duckworth, about 70pc of his program was dry sown with good germinations on late June rains.

"The crop is all up now but we still want substantial rains in July and August," he said. "South of Lake Grace is okay but areas to the north east are a bit dryish.

"We do have a bit of subsoil moisture but nothing has connected up yet.

"The focus for us now is controlling barley grass in the cereals so we want a couple of good spraying days."

North Lake Grace farmer Allan Marshall said recent showers had given him more confidence of getting through the year despite recording nearly 90mm of rain for the year.

"We were on the edge until the rain came three weeks ago but if we get some more I'll be happier.

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 This BoM map shows the week's WA rainfall to 9am Thursday.  Colour code: Deep green: 25-50mm. Light green, 15-25mm. Yellow, 10-15mm. Brown, less than 10mm. Click on the map to enlarge it.
This BoM map shows the week's WA rainfall to 9am Thursday. Colour code: Deep green: 25-50mm. Light green, 15-25mm. Yellow, 10-15mm. Brown, less than 10mm. Click on the map to enlarge it.
Alex Duckworth, Lake Grace, inspects a canola paddock that last month had suffered late germination and wind erosion.
Alex Duckworth, Lake Grace, inspects a canola paddock that last month had suffered late germination and wind erosion.
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Poll Date: 06 July, 2009

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