WHEAT and sorghum harvest has begun in Central Queensland, and AgForce grains president Wayne Newton, Dalby, said the region could have Queensland’s best crops.
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He said while the entire state is dry – the central growers were able to plant earlier into moisture from Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March.
He said crops in Southern Queensland are “desperately in need of rain”, with the accumulated pressure of dry weather and frosts taking a toll.
Some chickpea crops are in the ground, but have again felt the pressure of frosts and are running out of moisture.
Mr Newton said southern growers need rain – and they need it now.
Growers on the Darling Downs put their crops in later, with the first cereal crops emerging now, and he said time will tell how much of a toll the frosts took.
Some chickpeas have been planted on hilly country, but anything planted on the flats “pretty well has been wiped out”.
“Yield potential isn’t great at the moment, but could be if we get some decent rain very soon,” Mr Newton said.
“Central Queensland could well be the best crops across (Queensland).”
He said the season was keeping prices “fairly firm”, with cereals sought after by the lotfeeding and poultry industries.
Chickpea export prices are firm, and he said the potential loss of tonnage in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales would keep those prices steady.
Kelly Butterworth
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
