Victorian farmers welcome rain ahead of expected dry summer

Farmers in regional Victoria are expressing gratitude for recent rain, anticipating a bountiful harvest despite an anticipated dry summer. However, waterlogged fields are causing concern for some growers who are still unable to access their crops following recent flooding. Some farmers believe that aerial spraying, which is costly, may be their only recourse if the ground does not dry out soon.

As sunshine and clear skies begin to appear in Victoria, farmers are experiencing a mix of relief and frustration over the heavy rainfall. Western Victoria growers have suffered up to 15 percent crop losses, while others have resorted to drones to spray inaccessible paddocks after receiving up to 150 millimeters of rain last week.

Despite these wet conditions, farmers remain optimistic, particularly as the critical spring months lie ahead. The predicted El Niño weather pattern in spring and summer is forecast to be one of the strongest on record. Russell Hocking, a broadacre cropping farmer from Prairie and Werrimull, has lost approximately 15 percent of his crop to flooding and predicts an additional 10 percent loss if the paddocks do not dry up soon.

Hocking noted that his barley and lentils are struggling, while wheat and oats seem to be in better shape. Both properties have surpassed their average annual rainfall, with Prairie receiving 410 millimeters and Werrimull receiving 348 millimeters. The Prairie farm had experienced a four-day deluge in late June and early July, resulting in widespread flooding of low-lying crops.

Hocking remains cautiously optimistic about the season, expecting above-average yields barring a frost. Agronomist Simon Craig reported that wet conditions have heightened disease pressure, leading to a surge in demand for fungicides. This has resulted in supply shortages, forcing growers to explore alternative methods like drone and helicopter spraying.

Drone spraying costs significantly more than tractor spraying, with prices ranging from $8-$10 per hectare for the former and $24-$26 per hectare for the latter. South-west Victorian dairy farmer Craig Dwyer has put himself on the waiting list for aerial spraying on his Bullaharre property, as the ground is too wet for regular traffic.

Dwyer expressed his appreciation for the recent rain, noting that after two years of drought, any amount of precipitation is welcome. In north-east Victoria, Lima East cattle farmer Damien Gerrans received nearly 100 millimeters of rain over the weekend. The dams are full, and the creeks have burst their banks. Gerrans acknowledged that this is the largest rain event in a while, but he remains hopeful that the season will start with an early and dry summer. His low-lying land has been flooded, and he has had to relocate his herd to higher ground.