Late July and early August rain have improved the chances of another good WA harvest, according to the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA).

In its August crop update, GIWA says previously dry areas of the state, particularly in the northern grainbelt, are on track for at least average grain yields and the areas that were less impacted from a dry July are looking at above average grain yields.

GIWA noted that all grain crops are further advanced in growth stage than normal due to the very warm winter which has plusses and minuses for growers.

The upside is a greater percentage of the crop will be filling grain prior to the inevitable heat in the spring, reducing the chance of heat shock.

The downside is the crop will be exposed to a greater period of frost risk with cereal crops vulnerable to frost from now onward in the central and northern regions.

GIWA says the recent rainfall has also brought with it an increase of leaf disease in cereals with powdery mildew in wheat and net blotch in barley requiring extra spring fungicide applications in most areas. Sclerotinia in canola and lupins is also requiring control.

GIWA's August update has confirmed what it describes as ‘a huge area of canola in the ground' - just shy of two million hectares, mostly at the expense of lupins and oats.
The expected tonnage of crops from WA include 3,160,000 tonnes of canola, 10,300,000 tonnes of wheat and 5,120,000 tonnes of barley.