Scattered storms during the weekend have brought offered some much needed relief for farmers following the past six weeks of blistering heat.
But it’s already too late for many farmers, where the record temperatures and limited rain have resulted in irreversible yield losses for summer crops.
As has been the case all summer, the storms were wild and patchy. Much of the Darling Downs recorded 20mm to 40mm on the weekend with the change also offering welcome cooler temperatures.
Jandowae received 64mm on Sunday and Monday, while Dalby recorded 40mm. Further west, Roma registered 60mm. Falls of 30mm to 35mm were the norm, but rainfall totals tapered off closer to Goondiwindi.
However, for many farmers, the rain and reprieve from the heat, has come too late. Weeks of excessively high temperatures and little rain has already slashed yield expectations for many farmers.
Early sorghum yields have proved disappointing. Crops are coming in the 3.5 to 4.0 tonnes per hectare, well down on earlier expectations. Quality is also disappointing with a lot of small seeds.
Mungbean crops have also suffered with the season. Mungbean plantings were up with farmers hoping to cash in on the attractive prices of $1300 a tonne circulating at planting time. Mungbeans have wilted with the heat and dry weather. Crops have struggled with the heat and limited rainfall with most farmers now expecting significantly below average yields. Some farmers have already chosen not to harvest crops.
This difficult summer crop season across Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, has been a stark contrast to the perfect winter crop harvest.
Last week Australia’s government crop forecaster ABARES lifted its estimate of last year’s national wheat crop by 2.5 million tonnes to a record large 35.1 million tonnes.
ABARES raised its estimate of Queensland’s 2016/17 wheat crop to around 1.9 million tonnes. This is 40 per cent higher than last year’s despite a 5 decline in the planted area at the expense of more chickpeas. Queensland chickpea production was estimated at 850,000 tonnes, despite some early difficulties in the growing season with too much moisture.
Summer crop production estimates were cut back further as ABARES factored in smaller plantings and the difficult season. ABARES said that sorghum plantings were 40 per cent down on last year, as farmers switched to more lucrative crops such as cotton. Queensland sorghum production is forecast to fall to just 800,000 tonnes, making it one of the smallest crops in some time.
Grain prices steadied last week as farmer selling emerged to the higher prices. Northern markets were steady last week as opportunistic sellers emerged at the higher prices. Brisbane delivered sorghum traded in the mid $260’s and is quoted at $260.
Australia’s wheat and barley exports are expected to be running at a record pace in the first quarter of 2017. Strong Indian demand appears to be driving Australia’s wheat exports while Saudi Arabia and China are behind the strong barley export pace.
