The Farm Rovers team: Rob Marsden, left, with Eddy Rovers, talking about politics, life and the crops.
On Thursday, farmers Rob Marsden and Eddy Rovers were standing waist-deep in a grain crop under a threatening sky.
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Dark clouds were moving across the landscape and promising a welcome drop of rain for a thirsty Scepter wheat crop.
The crop has benefited from a good, wet start in May, and the heads have been filling out well.
“Everyone deserves a good season after the ones we’ve had,” Eddy Rovers remarked.
But more than a few farmers have been sitting on the edge of their seats as rainfall eased off in the region in September, with some places getting less than half the average for the month.
Eddy pulled out one plant by the roots and remarked about how dry the soil was.
It’s not unknown that a good start can end up with a poor finish.
So the rain that came on Friday was a welcome relief.
In this particular 40 ha paddock, irrigation is available, but at about $300/Ml, Eddy and son-in-law Rob Marsden are not keen to spend more money than they have to.
High diesel and fertiliser prices have made them cautious.
But at the end of the day, global events will have an impact on grain prices, with continued uncertainty over exports from Russia and the Ukraine.
Rabobank reports that about 6 million tonnes of grain have failed to reach global markets, thus contributing to stronger international prices.
Other major wheat exporters are also reporting declining tonnages.
So, international factors will continue to impact prospects for the northern Victorian grain harvest.
Here’s hoping it will be positive.
The Scepter wheat crop is expected to be harvested in November.
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