At this time of year, northern Victorian farmers are all thinking one thing - it's harvest time. Grains such as canola and wheat (including this Dookie crop) are ready to go, while fruits like cherries and apricots are also coming into season and will be filling fruit bins in the region shortly.
The fruit harvest will have its usual problems (birds, hail and water) but it's November's unusually hot temperatures that have raised a few more questions about this year's crop. Growers also have to face the challenge of splitting fruit caused by storms and rain.
For cereal growers, the main issue is prices. Farmers are producing similar yeilds to previous seasons but look set to be paid a fraction of the price. Another challenge is the November heatwave, which could potentially shrink the less mature wheat crops.
For a full report, see pages 12 and 13.
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