Western Australia

Territory Manager:
Nick Joyce

The cropping season has started in a positive light for many following widespread April rains.  May to June rainfall has been fantastic for some and non existent for others.  Many growers have been able to get there crops to tap into sub soil moisture that has been stored from summer rains. 

There are some farmers that have not began or only seeded part of their intended cropping program for 2008.  Hopefully a good soak will allow these growers to crank up their seeding programs as there is still potential for positive outcome on the back of current commodity prices.  Crop varieties with early maturities should perform still on a later than anticipated planting.

The Northern wheatbelt is certainly having a big turn around from the previous two seasons.  Although this is not the case for everyone, most growers should be encouraged by the potential this year.  The subsoil moisture stored from summer rains has given crops the strength to hold on for rain.

The Midlands is in desperate need of rain.  Unfortunately this area did not receive a decent opening rain and is still waiting on a soaking shower.

The Eastern wheatbelt is a very mixed bag with a number of growers very dismayed or pleased with the season so far.  Several farms have completed their cropping program happily why many have pulled up waiting on moisture.  Like the northern wheatbelt, depending on your location, there is a reasonable amount of moisture from early rains that is allowing crops to holding on.

The Great Southern has had an outstanding season to date.  The crops through this part of the world generally look exceptional.  There has been consistent rainfall since April and there is excellent moisture all the way through the soil profile.

The Esperance region is very dry.  Farmers are in need of a decent rainfall event to date which is very uncharacteristic for this traditionally reliable region.  Like parts of the eastern wheatbelt there has been a lot of intended cropping paddocks that will not be sown in 2008.

This year will give growers an opportunity to view the performance of the new TT variety Hurricane in the Oilseeds WA trials and also the NVT program.  To date from what I have seen it is showing excellent vigour and looks to have greater early vigour than Thunder and Tornado.  Also new TT variety Storm has been planted by a handful of growers throughout the state and is also exhibiting good early vigour. 

Pacific Seeds will be releasing a new Clearfield Hybrid trialed as K9209 in two oilseeds WA trials at Williams and Esperance.  It is also in the 2008 NVT program and so far looks very encouraging with the hybrid growth traits.  This variety is an early-mid with its maturity and should have a wide fit in the west.  It is showing outstanding vigour in the trials that I have seen.

Hopefully autumn will result in widespread rainfall through out the state and give farmers the chance to profit from the high but volatile grain prices.   At the time of writing many areas have received some early July rain and the month looks positive for rainfall.

Regards,

Nick

Last Updated: 15 July, 2008