EARLY-SEASON harvest has kicked off in Western Australia, with the state expected to deliver a bumper crop.
Grain Producers Australia chairman Barry Large said he expected “a big crop” in WA this year, but rain and waterlogging would bring challenges.
“To say that it is wet is an understatement. It is wet from top to bottom. Harvesting is going to provide a few issues,” Mr Large said.
“For my farming enterprise (in Miling, WA), we are 15 to 20 per cent wetter than last year and we are going to have a few holes in our crop, but the good patches are going to be very, very good.”
While wet areas would likely dry out in time for harvest, the waterlogging was expected to bring down yields, he said.
“I don’t think we are going to get much above average (yields). If you offered me average (2.8 tonnes to the hectare for wheat) right now I’d take it.”
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