Mid West farmers in need of rain despite good start to 2022 grain season

The Grain Industry Association of WA has released its latest crop report, indicating a good start to grain season for the State while farmers in the Mid West await more rain.

The GIWA estimates the Geraldton zone will produce 1.3 million hectares of wheat, 150,000 hectares of barley, 260,000 hectares of canola, 10,000 hectares of oats, 80,000 hectares of lupins and 2000 hectares of pulses in the 2022 season.

The total figure of 1.802 million hectares is second in the State to Kwinana, which is expected to produce 4,348,000 hectares.

While those figures are promising, according to GIWA the north remains dry and dusty with growers eager for rain.

Despite drying soils, 70 to 80 per cent of all crops had been sown in the northern region by the middle of May.

Growers have squeezed in an extra paddock or two of canola, creating a reasonable area increase from last year.

While strong barley prices have also seen extra paddocks go in fairly early.

However, areas north of Geraldton are looking very dry, with poor emergence and little greenery around.

This area is expected to benefit more than others from the good falls of rain in the past two days.

Growers have been working overtime, with seeding looking to be wrapped up soon following a net increase in canola and barley areas.

Some growers have missed out on the rain, receiving only 30mm for the year to date, while some have pocketed 180mm.

North of Moora looks promising, with west coast areas such as Badgingarra, Dandaragan and Mingenew picking up big storms.