Not every state is still onboard for a record harvest off the back of the 2022-23 winter crop as driving flood waters take the edge off the season

Grain growers in northern NSW have felt the pinch more than most from widespread flooding and ongoing rain, as wet conditions downgrade the grain quality and prolong the 2022-23 winter harvest.

Even with the untimely rain throughout October and early November that led to widespread flooding, growers are still optimistic, and most are still preparing to harvest crops in the coming weeks, albeit much later than usual.

However, this will be the biggest test of mettle for growers seen for many decades as logistical issues such as road closures, access to storage, washouts, flooded paddocks, and damaged infrastructure all add to this harvest being the most difficult on record.

For growers in NSW in particular, who faced three severe seasons of drought to be followed by two of the best seasons on record, this harvest is almost more devastating than those of the droughts as this season has been one of great promise, with high growth on the stalks to only then see the unlikely devastation of floods ruining their high-income prospects.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has conducted a series of webinars to help growers manage the implications of a wet harvest that can now be viewed online at any time.

GRDC Senior Relations Manager, Gillian Meppem, says the organisation has prioritised getting resources out to growers as quickly as possible during this time.

“I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the challenges growers would face at the end of a season that was shaping up to be incredible for most of the northern region,” said GRDC Senior Relations Manager, Gillian Meppem.

“It’s been devastating to hear of crop loss across parts of the region, we’re have focussed delivering tangible advice to growers to help them get harvestable crops off as efficiently and safely as possible. The webinars have extensive tips and information on how to properly store grain, retain seed and harvest canola in wet conditions,” Gillian Meppem added.

And while the flooding is widespread it is affecting some growers more than others. AMPS agronomist, Tony Lockrey, says in the Moree district, growers with good drainage or sloped country would still be able to harvest 90% of their crops this harvest, despite the significant amount of rain during October and early November.

“Growers east of the Newell Highway will still be able to harvest most of their crop but they’ll be tip-toeing through it,” he says.

“There have been delays to getting started and also logistical issues of roads being washed out and fences falling down. There’s a lot of infrastructure that will need to be fixed.

“Some growers have been able to get started on their canola and faba beans and have recorded some good yields.”

Areas on the western side of the highway haven’t fared as well, with Tony Lockrey adding that about 40% of crops wouldn’t be harvestable.

“That’s regardless of whether crops were ripe or not ripe yet. Flood waters have caused crops to lie down making it extremely difficult to recover at any stage.”

Meanwhile, Outlook Ag director, Greg Rummery at Walgett NSW, says the region has been swamped – with some crops completely inundated from flood water and excessive rain.

“It’s been a very wet spring, defined by the frequency of rainfall events and the substantial amount of rain these events have produced. On top of that, the Walgett shire has experienced extensive river flooding, with some crops completely underwater,” Greg Rummery added.

“I’m hopeful growers will be able to salvage something from areas that haven’t been entirely inundated with water and crops aren’t fully submerged, but we won’t know until conditions allow, which could be a 4-6 week wait.

“A lot of the region’s harvest will take place in the middle of December to early January, which is extremely late.”

Mr Rummery says on a positive note, some farms north and west of Walgett, that haven’t been impacted by flood waters, have been able to commence harvest.

“We’ve heard some reports of phenomenal grain yields, which just shows how good the season was leading up to the floods,” he says.

“There have been some issues with quality reported though, with low protein, high screenings and weather impacted crops being shot and sprung.

“Some growers have also been able to direct head their canola and have been producing some good yields from that.”

And while growers are watching their season hang on a cliff edge, a lot is being expected from ag contractors to turn everything into a miracle finish.

However, Baan Baa based contractors, Jack and Shaine Maunder have also been heavily impacted by flood waters and ongoing rain, with the weather causing a logistical nightmare for their two headers and a spray rig.

“Jack’s family property received 150mm of rain during October. We were fairly lucky in terms of crop loss in that the bulk of the rain fell when the crops were still green – there will be patches that won’t be harvestable, but it could have been a lot worse if the crops were more developed,” Shaine says.

“Our contracting business has certainly felt the impacts of the weather though. We’ve only just gotten our headers onto paddocks in the last week when usually we would have been harvesting for nearly a month.

“At this stage in the season, we would have been harvesting crops in Walgett NSW and making our way back to our district. Instead, we haven’t left our area at all, meaning we’re weeks behind and will most likely lose some of what has been our more consistent work because they’ve lost crops, or are heavily delayed in starting.

“There’s been a lot of sitting on our hands over the past few weeks. Sending our staff out to sit in headers, waiting for the moisture to go down or trying to get around road closures and washouts to get to farms but we’re grateful we’ve at least been able to make a start.”

On the other side of the coin, GRDC Northern Region Panel Deputy Chair and West Wyalong grain grower, Roger Bolte, says his family property has received 1000mm of rain so far this year – more than double than their usual annual total of 450mm.

Mr Bolte says growers across his region have been battling the wet conditions for months and the winter cropping area was down compared to usual due to ongoing rain at the start of the year.

Currently, crops across Central NSW all the way down to southern NSW, into Victoria, are being impacted by the ongoing wet conditions and the significant logistical issues they’re causing.

“The eastern side of West Wyalong, including my property, has been completely inundated with water,” he says.

“It’s a case of not knowing what we’ll be able to harvest until the water goes away. We’ll have some crops, like standing Canola, that we’ll be able to take off once we’re able to get on the ground but trafficability is a huge issue for everyone at the moment.

Mr Bolte says there are crops ready for harvest on the western side of West Wyalong but a lot of growers haven’t been able to get a start with the unusually cool conditions and high moisture in crops.

“There will be some growers who will have a good year if they’re able to take their crops off. Commodity prices are promising and there are some terrific looking crops around but they need to be able to get on paddocks to benefit from that.”

MCA Ag director, Paul Castor in Toowoomba QLD, says people were harvesting across the Western Downs and most were having a good run, producing promising yields.

Mr Castor says a lot of growers were still waiting to get on country, especially in southern parts of the Region near Goondiwindi, but they’ll get started when conditions allow.

“We expect there will be some quality issues and there’s been talk of falling numbers but overall, things are looking promising.”

Meanwhile GRDC Senior Relations Manager, Gillian Meppem, says the organisation would continue to circulate resources to help growers manage these ongoing wet conditions.

“Supporting growers is our utmost priority, so if there’s anything we can do to help manage the implications of a difficult harvest, please get in touch,” she says.

“The next few weeks will be a real challenge for growers, so we’re urging everyone to consider managing their fatigue and mental health and to reach out if they need support.”

Flood impact adds extra time for GRDC infrastructure grants

In response to challenging weather conditions and flooding across large parts of eastern Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has extended the application period for their $20 million infrastructure program.

There has already been significant interest from research organisations and farming groups into the infrastructure program, which is designed to build the country’s long-term research capacity through investments in new infrastructure or the enhancement of established facilities.

GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart said the infrastructure program was announced in September 2022 with applications initially due by the end of November 2022.

“We understand extreme weather events have had a widespread impact on our growers, farming communities and research organisations in eastern Australia. It’s been a really tough season so we’ve been doing what we can to support our sector,” Mr Hart said.

“Our responses to date have included specially developed webinars and information to help growers and agronomists make decisions about wet harvest and we’ve now made the decision to extend the closing time on our major infrastructure grants program.

“We want to ensure those interested in applying for our infrastructure grants aren’t disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control, so we’ve pushed the closing date out to 21 December 2022.”

Mr Hart said the infrastructure grant program was a major, national initiative for GRDC that was designed to ensure Australia’s world class researchers and technicians had the facilities and resources they need to deliver great science that improved grain growers’ profitability.

“It’s really important to us, and to the growers we invest on behalf of, that we get high quality applications that are going to make a genuine different to Australia’s research capability,” he said.

To be eligible for GRDC infrastructure grants applicants must provide a minimum co-contribution of 20 per cent for projects up to $1 million and of 30% for projects of $1 million and above. 

Grants under the national infrastructure program will be provided to support the building of new, or existing facilities such as glasshouses, greenhouses, irrigation works, laboratories or sheds.

The grants can be also used for: sensing and communication equipment, farm and research equipment and sample preparation and analytical equipment.

GRDC invites applications from applicants with planned projects, which have all relevant approvals in place at the date of the application or in sufficient time to enable construction to start by 30 June 2023.

Details of the tender and the application process can be found on the GRDC website.