Below average rainfall coupled with dryer than normal weather conditions during spring and early summer, has meant that only approximately 20% of dryland seed crops were taken through for seed harvest. Yield on these dryland stands ranged from 50-150kg/ha cleaned with clean outs ranging between 19 – 37%.

 

The irrigated seed crops received 25 -75mm of rainfall and cooler than ideal weather for seed production over a 7 day period during January. Getting the honey bees to pollinate during this period was difficult and some paddocks/areas were more affected that others due to the stage of the crop, and other native food sources flowering at the same time. Yields on early delivered irrigated paddocks have ranged from 200 -1050kg/ha cleaned with clean outs ranging from 20-25%. We are expecting to see some fields return slightly higher than average clean out percentage due to the damage caused to the seed by the Alfalfa Seed Wasp.

 

A little more information about the Alfalfa Seed Wasp affecting yields, with damage estimates ranging from 10-40% and has being driven by time of closure of the seed crop.

 

There is also a wide range of crop maturity this year, with many crops having been closed up later than usual due to some growers chasing additional hay crops, due to strong local demand. Also, our summer, while dry, has been cool which has delayed crop development. However, due to reduced soil moisture it has meant that crops when desiccated, do turn off quickly and ready for harvest faster than average, generally by 2-4 days.

 

Early signs from germination test completed thus far have again seen higher than normal Hard seed levels above 20%, however more information on this issue will come through as the harvest progresses, and more seed analysis results are received. Currently there is extremely strong demand for all Heritage Seed varieties from our customers so we urge you to make contact with either Robert or Roger to make them aware of your seed requirements

 

The capacity of the cleaning sheds will be tested this year, with the strong demand there is already jostling for processing slots, so this will be a year top consider your requirements sooner rather than later.