Wet weather erodes northern cereal crop quality and harvest progress
Rain across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales is reducing the weight and quality of cereal crops and keeping harvesters out of paddocks. Prompt wheat prices have firmed because of the northern harvest delay, while barley values are steady, suggesting buyers have enough cover into November. Growers are cautious about forward selling as wet conditions and further rain are forecast.
Rainfall in the past week reached 154 mm at Hannaford and 141 mm at Mitchell in southern Queensland, with 70 mm at Moree in northern New South Wales. Harvesting has stopped because crops cannot dry sufficiently, and some grain has been taken at moisture levels above the 12.5 per cent bulk-delivery limit. At Mungindi, only about 40 per cent of the planned winter area was sown after early-season moisture stayed limited. Chickpeas performed best, while faba bean harvesting was interrupted by the wet spell.
The delay could tighten near-term supplies of higher-quality wheat and barley, affecting grain buyers, feed users and exporters who depend on timely deliveries. Growers may face downgrades, drying costs and lost yield, while consumers might see only limited price effects if stocks remain adequate. Rural communities could also feel slower harvest cash flow, with the extent depending on how much more rain falls and how quickly paddocks dry.