Uncertain weather brings crop losses

Karoline Tuckey | 3rd February 2010

Wairarapa grain farmers are holding their breath for a break in the weather but some baleage, rye and pea crops have already been lost.

Harvest contractor Andrew Tulloch said 90 per cent of the baleage and silage harvest had been done mid-December, but since then the weather hadn't offered many windows to finish the rest.

"We have a growing list to be done because it's growing season and there's a lot of grass out there. It's been a big baleage and silage season. But black fungus is starting to grow on the straw."

Mr Tulloch said some crops had been pre-cut, but then with wet weather weeds had quickly grown up between the cut grasses, and grain had been washed out of the seed heads by raindrops. While crops left standing declined in nutritional value, but would still have to be harvested, he said.

"Anything that's been standing a long time ready is pretty much useless, but where we have cut hay or silage early there'll be a second crop," Mr Tulloch said.

The last time there was a third crop was 10 or 12 years ago, he said, but that was less likely this year because farmers were growing less crops after the reduction in this season's dairy payout.

"Because of that there's big changes in the farming that's been taking place.

Wheat, barley and rye mature in the next few weeks, but harvesters need several days of fine weather and low humidity, Mr Tulloch said.

"If the rain continues those crops are a pretty severe risk. The trouble is that seed's sprout if it's been quite high humidity,"

"There's not a lot of a problem with that yet because we are only getting into the harvest window. Although there's been some losses in rye grass seed and pea crops. But if it eases off it'll be plain sailing and there's presently good yields, he said."

"It doesn't have to not rain again but you need some windows. It's going to take three to four days after rain before grain comes in to harvestable moisture."

Federated Farmers grain and seed chairman Paul McGill said he was also hopeful there could be a good grain harvest if the weather cleared up.

"We're in El Nino, so it was forecast to be dry later on."

He said both the wheat and barley crop had been pushed back by late planting because October was so wet.

"The next main crop is the spring barley, this rain now is ideal for wheat and barley, they're really filling out," he said.

"The yields are looking good; 20 per cent up from last year, even though prices are down a bit."

Last year's barley prices reached $430 a tonne, he said, while prices this year were about $300 a tonne, so only about 40 per cent of the volume of last year's crop had been planted.

The next growing season could be a big one, Mr McGill said. "Farmers will be growing more autumn arable crops this year as there's just not the stock around. People are holding on to them and finishing them off themselves."