THE record floods through south-western Queensland and northern NSW are unlikely to dent Australia’s summer food crops too significantly, due to the location of crops.
The key areas flooded, to the west of Moree and in the Balonne River catchment around St George, grow a lot of cotton.
In contrast, big sorghum and sunflower production zones, such as the Darling Downs in Queensland and the Liverpool Plains in NSW did not get too wet.
ABARES released its Australian Crop Report this week, forecasting an increase in summer crop production of 18pc for the 2011-12 season.
Even though much of the cotton belt got wet, ABARES expects a 20pc increase in cotton yields to around 1.1 million tonnes and a 13pc increase in sorghum to 2.3 million tonnes.
ABARES executive director, Paul Morris, said there were some pockets that had suffered severe damage from the flooding, both in terms of crop loss and downgrades to quality, however yields outside the flooded area are expected to be well above average.
Agvance agronomist Peter McKenzie, Quirindi, on the Liverpool Plains, said while there was plenty of rain in late January and early February, it had been dry beforehand, which allowed the rain to soak in.
“We had widespread falls of 90-120mm, but it really didn’t run that much water, which suggests things were getting a little dry before it rained,” he said.
He said his information was that crops further to the north and west, around Narrabri and Boggabri were worse off due to flooding problems.
In terms of the Liverpool Plains, Mr McKenzie said there was an average to above average plant, and that growers were relatively happy thus far.
“Sunflowers are the major cash summer crop in this area, and it is another three weeks or so until the early ones come off, and the late ones will not be harvested until April, but at this stage they are OK.”
He said sorghum crops were also reasonable, with the major issue from the rain denitrification.
“The sorghum is a while off, not to be harvested until the end of March, so the rain didn’t hit it at a crucial development stage.
“It’s going to need another rain, perhaps in the first week of March, to really finish it off, but the potential isn’t too bad.”
Indeed, he even said many growers were more concerned about damage from feral pigs than from the big wet.
“Pig damage is getting worse up around here – it wasn’t long ago you barely saw any on the Liverpool Plains, but now there is a significant problem.”
Sunflowers, which he said provided a good income stream at current oilseed prices, are also well set up.
“We’re hoping there will be quite a few paddocks over 2t/ha, which is a good prospect at values of around $500/t.
Tom Howard, Philp Brodie Grains, Toowoomba, said parts of the Darling Downs were even a little dry.
“The major ran was out on the Balonne and the Maranoa catchments.
“On the whole, we’re expecting sorghum production off the Darling Downs to be near record levels, its been a really good year.
“The crop damage out near Goondiwindi and St George will be mitigated by the good tonnages on the Downs.
“With the sorghum coming off now, we are seeing some yields of around 4.5t/ha.”
Nick Goddard, of the Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) confirmed Mr McKenzie’s opinion on the sunflower front.
“The worst of the floods went to the west of the major sunflower producing areas, so they are looking pretty good.
“From an oilseeds perspective, our major concern is with the soybean crop in the Northern Rivers area in coastal NSW, as they are currently under water.
“However, at this stage of their development, with a run of dry weather, there is still a chance there could be a harvestable crop.”
Moree agronomist Rob Long, B&W, said his area had sustained significant damage, but it was by no means a wipeout.
“A lot of the creek country to the west of Moree out towards Walgett is a massive lake, but even the rises there are still OK.
“To the east of Moree, it is a lot less wet.”
Mr Long said the major issues were in cotton, the major crop west of Moree.
Email a friend