IN a cropping season that has been close to 'textbook' across much of Eyre Peninsula, the proof of the pudding is now in the eating as both harvest and the weather heats up.
On upper areas of EP, harvest has been underway for about three weeks.
Given another two weeks of good weather, Penong farmer Bronte Warmington said many farmers in his local area should be close wrapping harvest up.
"It's been a good season," he said.
"Crops are yielding well, grain weight has been good and deliveries to the silo have been trouble-free. "Overall harvest would be better if prices were higher but then we'd all be rich."
Other areas including Ceduna and Wirrulla are also experiencing above average seasons. Peter Kuhlmann, Mudamuckla, said that, despite missing out on rainfall in June, he is still very happy.
"This year we are only 13 millimetres above our average growing season rainfall, but we're reaping more grain than we have grown in the past three years put together," he said.
Poochera, Minnipa and Wudinna districts are on track for a record season, with numerous growers reaping four tonne-to-the-hectare wheat crops.
The hail storm that struck Eyre Peninsula in late September caused isolated crop damage of up to 90 per cent, with damage spreading from Wharminda to north of the Eyre Highway between Lock and Cleve. The same storm caused lesser damage throughout lower and central EP.
North of Cowell and along the coast to Elbow Hill, growers have had another disappointing season. Not many farmers have started reaping in these areas mainly because of green regrowth following the hail storm.
Towards Lower Eyre Peninsula, at Edillilie and Yeelanna things are in full-swing, while later growing areas between Wangary and Port Lincoln are just starting.
Reports indicate canola crops are yielding between 1.5-2t/ha, with several reports exceeding this figure.
"Yields are certainly above average, but not the best ever," Yeelanna farmer Jordan Wilksch said.
"At the moment, it is as good a season as 2005, and up there with 2001."
With many areas across Eyre Peninsula experiencing record yields, many farmers have prepared temporary or makeshift storage options on-farm. Ranging from the construction of purpose built sheds, bunkers and grain storage pits to the purchase of sausage bags, or placement of straw bales on graded areas as temporary bunkers. Most farmers have considered the process of how they will handle any hold ups experienced in the receival system.
This is driven by concerns about getting grain into the receival system because of high yields, and also grain prices. Low prices have meant grain is being warehoused rather than sold and this is a concern on central, western and upper EP.
Thus far many farmers have said local receival sites are coping well, with opening hours extended to cater for demand. However, queues at the silos once harvest is in full-swing are expected.
"Most farmers are resigned to the fact that deliveries will be slow this year," Wudinna farmer Tristan Waters said.
"But after poor seasons for the past few years, it's a nice problem to have."
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