CANOLA growers are on track for a good harvest after substantial winter rainfall throughout the region.
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Spring frosts are the main concern between now and windrowing, which is due to start in about six weeks time.
Canola crops are in the early stages of seed development which makes them sensitive to frost.
Andrew O’Keeffe, who runs a mixed farming partnership with his brother and father at Culcairn, has a combined total of 235 hectares of canola in, and about double that to wheat.
"Frost is always a concern at this time of year when crops are at the flowering stage," Mr O'Keeffe said.
"There's good moisture there to carry us through. Another couple of reasonable rain events in the next month, and the weather not getting too hot in a hurry, the crops should finish well."
Close to a full moisture profile should sustain crops and yields even in the event of below average spring rain, with just the Mallee and Wimmera lagging behind.
“There’s been excessive water in some low-lying paddocks but on well-drained areas canola has had a great season and grown plenty of seeds,” Dale Grey, a seasonal risk agronomist with DEDJTR, said.
“Southern Riverina and North East Victoria are doing very well.
“There’s been quite a bit above average rainfall. All of Australia is having a good season apart from North Central and Western Victoria.”