Victorian grain farmers are waiting for the traditional seasonal break for the 2017 winter cropping season, which is normal for this time of the year. However, the extended weather forecast is predicting a drier than normal start to the season.
Farmers are coming off the ideal cropping season. Wetter and cooler than normal spring weather extended the growing season for grain farmers, resulting in record yields for wheat, barley, canola and pulse crops.
Longer term weather outlooks are more of a concern. The Bureau of Meteorology last week said April to June rainfall was likely to be below average over the southern two-thirds of mainland Australia, excluding the east coast. Daytime temperatures are likely to be above average.
The bureau said there was a 50-50 chance of an El Nino developing by July.
