Bumper rice harvest under way
Published on: April 13, 2022.
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THANKS to consistent rainfall and well-timed warm temperatures, the New South Wales rice crop is set to be the largest in five years, with the industry predicting 600,000-650,000 tonnes to be received into storages by the end of May. Most of the rice grown in Australia is concentrated in the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys of southern NSW, with small growing pockets in north-east NSW, northern Victoria and northern Queensland. The 2021 NSW rice crop totalled more than 450,000t, up from record low levels of 54,000t in 2019 and 45,000t in 2020 due to drought. Ricegrowers Association of Australia (RGA) president Rob Massina said about a third of the 2021-22 crop has been harvested. “A lot of that would have been received in the Murrumbidgee Valley and western Murray,” Mr Massina said. “The eastern Murray is starting to kick ahead now.” Mr Massina said the early crop size estimates are indicative of an above-average crop. “It is quite substantial at about 10 times bigger than it was two years ago. “It has been an exceptional growing season; from all reports I’m hearing those yields have been very good and most growers are quite happy with the results.” He said the perfectly timed warm weather was the main factor behind the good crop yields. “We have had the nice warm periods through those critical stages of January and February. “Maintaining a temperature above 15 degrees is critical and that has been achieved through those growing periods.” NSW mixed farmer, Peter Kaylock, said he is half-way through his rice harvest. He said his property, located near Moulamein in the Riverina, had the right temperatures at the ideal time for the rice crop of about 300 hectares to flourish. “It’s smiles all around; it will be the best crop we have had in many years,” Mr Kaylock said. “Everything is falling in the right place, mainly the temperature at the right time of year.” Mr Kaylock said he aims for a yield of 10t/ha but expects to exceed this target.
Source: https://www.graincentral.com/news/bumper-rice-harvest-under-way/
