Nobby's next crop

"We're preparing to water it using our 200-metre lateral irrigation system - even though there's enough moisture further down in the soil, we'll need to water it at some stage, otherwise, by the time it gets too dry, you're falling behind," Scott said.

"The top of the soil is dry at the moment so we'll use our water from the bores and dam to make sure it has a chance."

Planting out in the second week of June, Scott is using the wheat as a rotational crop after harvesting 180 hectares of irrigated corn.

"Corn is our biggest summer crop here, but we struggled last season because of the heat.

"Some parts we harvested around 2.5 tonnes/acre and up to 5.5 in others. It was pretty terrible but we were lucky the later crop fared a bit better. In the end we were happy with what we got and we were a lot better off than others who didn't even get a chance to put their crop in the ground."

Scott said five irrigators on the summer crop had meant the winter crop needed to be hardier to save on electricity and water.

"The volumes of water we have, we wouldn't be able to support a crop that needs water continuously, so we break it up between winter and summer.

"We planted 50kg of seed per hectare and only supplementary irrigate our wheat - we'll give it an inch this week and see how we go down the track. I'll have to irrigate about 400ac (161ha) of it to ensure a good outcome, but we'll do that as little as possible because we want it to rain."

Growing up on the family property, Marinya, Scott has always been passionate about farming.

"I came back to the farm after graduating from an agronomy degree at the University of Queensland, Gatton. My parents thought I should pursue a course before coming back to the property, but I always knew that this is what I wanted to do. I'd like to be able to settle here and see what I can achieve. I would like to eventually expand the property.

"There aren't many young people coming back to properties in our district - I think it's pretty hard for a young person to go farming unless you've already got family doing it.

"It's an expensive exercise, but it would be great to know there are other young people who are as passionate about farming and want to make a go of it."

Not limited to wheat, the Schelbergs have also planted 12 hectares of pickling onions alongside their 200ha of wheat.

“We got about $320/tonne of wheat last year and have opted not to contract it out because we’re hoping the price will go up,” Scott Schelberg said.

“We want a good return and even though you don’t make a fortune off wheat, it’s an easy crop to grow.”

Selling their harvest to local grain merchants, Scott has also been working to improve the soil on the property.

“We purchase manure from Beef City once a year for around $5/t on 1000t lots and have been spreading it over 160 acres where we’ll be planting the corn in October.

“The rest of the paddocks will be fertilised but we find the manure, although I haven’t noticed an increased yield, really improves the soil, makes it more friable and increases the worm population.”

With 7.5mm of rain last Wednesday, Scott and his family hope for more to keep the wheat kicking, something agronomist Callum Bischos from Pursehouse, Clifton, said is a must in this cool weather.

"The rainfall has been quite patchy in areas. Some people have had a little and others have missed out completely, and that's been reflected in their planting," Callum said. "Growers are at the end of planting now and we know that not much more will go in from this point. It's pretty much done for now, and as long as we get timely rain, there'll be a reasonable crop, and if the season goes that way, then there'll be plenty of summer crop planting."

Scott said the small amount of rain had done little to the fallow paddocks, but he remained hopeful.

"Everything is working pretty smoothly at the moment so we'll wait for the rain and keep doing what we do."