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Queensland Rains A Mixed Blessing

Story Added : 20th November 2008

Gooondiwindi farmer Stan Paynter, whose son Stan junior won the September eFarming best photo competition, says this week’s rain will be a mixed blessing for farmers in the region.

“We copped an inch of rain in two days which stopped our harvest but we hope to be back into it by the weekend,” he said. “But we’ve also got sorghum in, which we planted in late September and that has been doing it tough.“This rain will help it now.

” “We’ve about two thirds of the way through our programme which consists of 1400 acres of wheat and some Feed barley and it’s going 10 or 11 bags so we’re pretty happy.

“I don’t think we’ll have too many quality problems because it was cold rain so I don’t think we’ll get any sprouting.“But we’ll know better I guess a bit later on.

“I think there maybe some quality issues around the place and that will probably put pressure on domestic feed grain prices but that won’t bother us.
“All our wheat is going APH2 or H2.”

According to Stan, export cash grain prices are “pretty ordinary” around $270 a tonne so he is more likely to warehouse the majority of grain and “seek what happens”.
“We might put in a bit in some pools but the cash guys aren’t making us jump for joy.”

Most harvest news Stan is hearing on the grapevine points to a positive result in Queensland and northern NSW.

“They’ve started harvesting in Walgett and they’re talking up the harvest in West Wyalong so it looks good,” he said. “I would say about half of the harvest is complete in Queensland and while there will be some delays the rain will be very welcome for the summer crops.”