Weather hits hay, silage hopes

UNSEASONALLY hot and dry conditions have put the brakes on dryland pastures and cropping in Tasmania.

Records fell around the state this week as temperatures soared well above averages. Combined with a lack of rain, the heat has seen production fall on unirrigated pastures and will significantly impact dryland cereals crops.

Hopes of a bumper hay and silage season are now gone in most areas.

Agricultural Contractors of Tasmania chairman Peter Campbell said the turnaround had some farmers worried.

“People are a bit nervous, there’s not an abundance of hay and silage about,” he said. “It could get a bit serious.” David Skipper, of TAP Agrico, said the dry conditions and frost damage in some crops would hit grain yields.

He said there were reports of some farmers losing up to 50 per cent of their barley crops in the Ross and Campbell Town area due to a late frost event.

Mr Skipper said some farmers might choose to feed off their cereals or bale them if grain yields are not enough to make them worth harvesting.

However, for the state’s fruit growers, the warm conditions are proven beneficial.

Cherry grower Tim Reid, of Reid Fruits, said trees in its Derwent Valley orchards were thriving.

Mr Reid’s first cherries are to be harvested in early December for export to Japan.

Tamar Valley berry grower Simon Dornauf sad the warm conditions had helped speed up production in crops like raspberries and blackberries, which had been lagging due to cold conditions early on.

Strawberry picking at the family’s Hillwood Berry Farm operation is getting into full swing.