THERE have been some issues with mice, but by and large the nation's sorghum producers are delighted with a big crop.
In Queensland, there have been pockets advantaged by storm rainfall that have pushed the 8 tonne a hectare mark, with consistent yields around 4-4.5t/ha, while on the Liverpool Plains in NSW croppers have also been able to hit the 7-8t/ha mark where they have been able to avoid mouse damage.
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Prices for the feed grain remain high, with Chinese demand from both the livestock feeder and alcohol manufacturing sectors strong.
It means prices have held firm at around $270 a tonne delivered upcountry or around $300/t port for quality product.
Brendan Taylor, AgForce Queensland grains president, said the earlier sown crops in the January planting window, the second opportunity to plant through much of Queensland, were among the best.
"The early January crops managed to get under some of that really good March rain at a good time in their development and we've seen phenomenal yields of up to 8t/ha around parts of the Darling Downs.
"They were obviously the exception rather than the rule, but a lot of people are recording very handy 4-5t/ha crops."
He said contrary to other years, where early planted crops performed best, the timing of the rain definitely suited crops planted after Christmas.
Matthew Madden, NSW Farmers grains committee chairman, said sorghum growers through much of NSW were buoyant.
"There has been some damage from mice, particularly on the Liverpool Plains, but the flip side to that those that avoided the damage have had a fantastic year," Mr Madden said.
He said the big March rain had generally not impacted quality too badly.
"On the Liverpool Plains the crop was not quite ready, while others had finished already, there were a few guys in the middle that got caught and have stained grain, but generally it has not been too bad."
And the outlook is already good for a strong sorghum plant next season.
Brad Jamieson, Advanta Seeds national sales manager, said with moisture profiles full farmers were already making enquiries about sorghum seed for this year's plant.
"It obviously depends on what happens from here, but at this stage you'd expect a good plant next season."
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is Fairfax Ag Media's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his ten years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector. Away from work, he is a keen traveller, having spent his long service leave last year in Spain learning the language.
Gregor Heard is Fairfax Ag Media's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his ten years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector. Away from work, he is a keen traveller, having spent his long service leave last year in Spain learning the language.
