LATE season rains have hampered the harvest run of some Loddon farmers.
President of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch and Glenalbyn farmer Graham Nesbit said rain days had him switching tasks “with lots of balls in the air”.
Mr Nesbit said the past three weeks had seen him average just a day a week on the header.
“The best run I have had has been two days ... but now its looking like I will get a good four or five days before a hot stinker comes early next week,” he said.
“If that happens, and we can keep moving, should have the harvest finished next week instead of juggling days between cropping, spraying weeds and chasing sheep.”
Mr Nesbit said northern and southern Loddon areas were continuing to report good yields despite more than 100mm of rain since mid-November.
“The central areas may not have the same return this season,” he said.
“I’ve done one paddock that was yielding an average of between eight and nine bags ... not marvellous but still something.”
The Wedderburn district has already recorded 33mm of rain for December, above the monthly long-term average.
Meanwhile, Rural Bank this week said farmers were expected to encounter a more positive first half of 2025 for trade conditions amid a generally favourable rainfall outlook and improving demand prospects, though a volatile geopolitical environment remained a concern for the industry.  The 2025 outlook report said a slight easing of ocean freight rates would provide a small boost to exporters amidst a rise in new vessel capacity and lower fuel costs.
Senior Manager Industry Affairs, Neil Burgess said: “Australia’s wheat production for the 2024/25 season is forecast at 31.2 million tonnes, up 19 per cent from last season, with barley production set to rise five per cent to 11.1 million tonnes, with a tight supply scenario expected to keep Chinese demand for Australian barley strong, providing support for prices.   
“Wheat exports have been sluggish at the start of the 2024-2025 marketing season and while Australian markets are pricing in export demand, the current price level is not yet competitive enough to capture a larger share of the global market.”