Similar to last year, this summer season has been hot and dry for local farmers.
Our well-below average summer rainfall of 19.8 millimetres so far is affecting the broader farming community including major chemical companies such as Kerin Agencies in Crystal Brook.
Summer spraying is a major part of the farming year with costs varying from nothing to a substantial amount depending on the rainfall.
Tens of thousands of dollars can be spent on summer spray in a season like we experienced two years ago with 113.5 mm of summer rain.
Additional to the fact that there are minimal weeds to spray, Chris Fogarty from Kerin Agencies said the most common spray, Round Up, doesn’t work in dry dusty conditions, hence spraying is not at the top of farmers’ to do list at the moment.
Although farmers are saving money on summer spray, moisture in the soil from a wet summer greatly benefits crops in the next season, increasing the turn over in harvest.
Pros and cons will both arise from our current situation if our summer continues on its dry course.
The snail numbers will reduce, as well as the disease carrying weeks.
Remaining grain and stubble from the previous harvest will keep their nutrients, benefitting grazing livestock, despite the lack of green feed available for them.
But Chris said without the rain the chemical residue in the soil can cause chemical damage on the next crop.
So far summer has only shown hot and dry tendencies but with six weeks still in store there is great possibility for the prospects of this year to drastically change.
Source - http://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/
Australia - Hot and dry summer for Mid North farmersSimilar to last year, this summer season has been hot and dry for local farmers. Summer spraying is a major part of the farming year with costs varying from nothing to a substantial amount depending on the rainfall. Tens of thousands of dollars can be spent on summer spray in a season like farmers experienced two years ago with 113.5 mm of summer rain. Additional to the fact that there are minimal weeds to spray, the most common spray doesn’t work in dry dusty conditions, hence spraying is not at the top of farmers’ to do list at the moment.
