Harvest Progress and Challenges

By Georgia Campbell

16^th December 2024

Harvest continues its slow burn in the southern parts of the country, with growers now confident, bar any major weather events, they will finish harvest prior to Christmas. Thankfully it looks like we will have at least a good run of dry, all be it hot weather across the eastern states for the next 10 days. In comparison Western Australia looks like they will be harvesting into the new year, with southern parts of the country only 60% of the way through wheat harvest. 

As expected, off the back of the significant rainfall that has been seen throughout the country since harvest commenced, grain quality has been downgraded, with plenty of SFW now coming off paddocks through Eastern and Southern New South Wales and down into Victoria. BAR2 & 3 have also been a theme across Victoria in Barley harvested post rain. While not great for growers, markets have been happy to see more BAR grades in the market, with early harvested crops seeing higher volume of Malt quality barley. 

The downgraded quality, coupled with limited export demand has caused both wheat and barley prices for these grades fall over the last week. This has only been tempered by the lack of grower engagement to sell these grades. Grower selling for quality grain stored on farm throughout northern parts of the country has also been tempered, with many growers not enthused by market prices or checking out for the Christmas break, before taking another look in the new year. A small amount of cereal grain seems to be trading over the fence for prompt delivery into local homes. Pressure is on growers in Northern New South Wales and Queensland who will likely need to sell some cereals stored on farm, to make way for sorghum.  

Canola has continued to remain volatile over the last week, with falling soybean and vegetable oil prices causing the markets to fall back heading into the end of last week. Prices also felt the effects of European markets being sufficiently covered into the end of the first quarter of next year.

For all those finished harvest, attention is now turning to summer spraying, ground preparation and planning for next year’s crops. Summer crops are also well into their growing window, with early sorghum harvest looking to commence in the new year. The window for sorghum planting is still well and truly open, with some Central Queensland growers gearing up to plant in January and February, with the recent rainfall events helping to maintain the soil moisture profile in preparation for that. Cotton crops have also been kicking along, with the recent rainfall and milder summer days we have seen prior to this week, has set the crop up for a good start. 

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year, gets the opportunity to have a break from the spray rig and spends some time with your family and friends.