An agricultural market analyst says Victorians are experiencing a once-in-a-century string of good crops as farmers revel in a perfectly-timed autumn break.
Andrew Whitelaw from Thomas Elder Markets said many farmers had enjoyed three well-above-average seasons — something not seen since the early 1920s.
He said recent weather had set up farmers for a good season.
"Victoria has been really lacking soil moisture and this recent rainfall has really helped pump it along," Mr Whitelaw said.
Hopes to boost global wheat supply
Mr Whitelaw said it could allow Australia to help boost the global wheat supply.
"We've got a lot of issues around the world which is causing global wheat prices to rise," he said.
"China is having a terrible time with its winter wheat crop, things are very tight on the global market, and if we are able to produce a good crop and sell into market this high priced [market] then that'll be excellent."
Grain farmers across north-west and central Victoria are feeling optimistic about the 2022 season after perfectly-timed rain to set up an autumn break.
At Meringur in far north-west Victoria, 30 millimetres of rain fell across most of Ron Hards' farm on Monday night and Tuesday.
He said some farmers in the middle of the Millewa had up to 50-60mm in their gauges.
"It's probably the best general rain we've had for a long long time," Mr Hards said.
"Everything is very saturated so it's going to be a day or two before we can get anything done.
"It creates a fair bit of optimism."
Mr Hards has already planted all of his vetch and put a couple of paddocks of lentils in prior to the rain.
He will also sow oats and barley in the coming weeks.
He had already considering altering his plans to avoid frost damage to ensure it will not all need to be harvested at the same time.
"We were planning to sow some more lentils this week, but now we've had rain everything's going to come up and it's probably just on the borderline of being a fraction early for some of it," Mr Hards said.
Wimmera wet
Further south at Rupanyup in the Wimmera, Andrew Weidemann recorded 54mm on his property.
It is a significant contrast to last season.
"We were dry right up until June 14. Everything was sown dry," Mr Weidemann said.
But he was not in a huge rush to start sowing.
Killing weeds that germinate from the rain will be his first priority.
"We won't want all of the crop coming up in April given the frost risk that will entail later in the year,"
This season, farmers are also dealing with high fuel and fertiliser prices.
"In our own case we're probably looking at a 75-80 per cent increase on our usual program of fertiliser inputs, and mechanical will be much the same," he said.
"We're certainly holding quite significant amounts of chemical because we looked at the situation last year in September and October, so we forward purchased a lot of our input costs ourselves."
Northern Victoria-NSW cheering too
Scott Burger is a senior agronomist at BR&C in Barham in southern New South Wales and said he could not remember the last time he had seen constant rain like this in autumn.
Mr Burger said received 46mm in Barham and said it was perfect timing for his 1,200-hectare rice crop.
"Over the last four months we've had about 50mm over a couple of days. But, you know, in summer time it just disappears.
"It's just fantastic, it's a confidence booster really."
