AFTER three years of drought, 2020 looks to be a successful year for farmers across the region, including Tamworth's Terry Blanch.
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On his property near Winton, Mr Blanch has planted a mixture of canola and barley crops, with hopes of harvesting the crops in the coming weeks. However, 2020 has not been without it's challenges.
First the nation's barley growers faced uncertainty due to the threat of tariffs being placed on the product from China, then farmers were faced with challenging conditions throughout the year.
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"Personally, some of the stuff we've got has the best potential to yield that we've ever grown," Mr Blanch said.
"It was a season filled with promise and while our crops have gone through the season pretty well they aren't ready yet.
"It's been unbelievable, but in saying that, it's not in the bin yet and it's nothing until it is in the bin."
One of the more challenging climatic issues farmers have faced has been frost, which Mr Blanch said had impacted some of his crops.
"We have had some frost damage, not a great deal, but that was mainly in the canola more than anything else," he said.
"However, it is just one of those things, whatever will be will be."
Gunnedah agronomist Jim Hunt said Mr Blanch was not alone as many farmers had been impacted by frost.
"Everyone is exposed to some downgrades, no one is immune to it," Mr Hunt said.
"There are some crops that will have some frost damage in them and some of the yields will be capped a bit.
"However, I'm still expecting to see pretty respectable yields out of those crops and I don't think anything will be completely wiped out."
Mr Blanch said the predicted rain for the region would inspire hope for summer crops across the district.
"There has been next to none of that go in around this area because it has been too dry," he said.
"However, I think there will certainly be some people around keeping an eye on the sky for that because if we do get some of this rain they're talking about, it might let them plant some summer crops.
"Crops for fodder like oats and that sort of thing will certainly enter a few minds.
"It is also worth noting that the likes of sorghum is trading right up there at barley price or above, so there's good cash flow there."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
