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Crops benefit from solid June rains

3 July 2009

South Australian crops are looking good, with paddock preparation and seeding well advanced, according to the latest State Government crop and pasture report.

The report confirms seeding was completed during June and crop growth has been relatively rapid given generally favourable weather conditions.

While subsoil moisture is now starting to build up in most districts, ongoing winter rainfall is still required to boost crop and pasture growth going into spring.

The June report, compiled by Rural Solutions SA, says seeding has been completed with no reduction in the intended crop area of 4.02 million hectares.

Report author Peter Fulwood said that despite some gale force winds in late June, causing drift and some crop damage in late sown, lightly covered paddocks, most areas of the state are now reporting steady growth.

Monthly rainfall varied from average to above average in most districts to below average in parts of the Northern Mallee and the South East, with the majority of totals around 30-75 mm.

“There has been some good above average rain across much of Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula, as well as some lesser falls in parts of the Mallee and the South East,” he said.

“Most crops have grown rapidly in response to the steady rainfall and milder minimum temperatures, with crops well advanced for this stage of the season.”

He said many cereal crops were at mid-late tillering, with the earliest sown commencing stem elongation.

Current yield potential of the crop is estimated to be slightly above the long-term average, but is dependent on adequate and timely winter / spring rainfall.
The initial estimate of crop production remains around 6.26 million tonnes.

The full report will be available shortly at www.pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport