A MIX of good quality and high yields has set the scene for the start of cotton picking in the Murrumbidgee Valley.
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Growers are about two weeks into harvesting the estimated 45,000 hectare crop and there has been yields of 13 bales a hectare achieved.
Cotton is gaining momentum in southern NSW with more irrigation farmers taking the option to incorporate the summer crop.
Southern Cotton general manager Kate O’Callaghan said the warmer temperatures were beneficial to the growers during picking.
In fact, many were able to continue picking into the night without risking moisture content problems.
Mrs O’Callaghan said the Southern Cotton gin at Whitton had stepped up to 24/7 shifts to accommodate the large amount of cotton coming in.
She said it was pleasing to see the crop was of such high quality. And despite the fact picking was only in its infancy she tipped it would be a bumper year for southern growers. NSW Department of Primary Industries technical specialist grain services, Peter Matthews said the summer crop season was coming to an end. “The cotton harvest is underway … with above average yields expected for irrigated crops,” Mr Matthews said.
Meanwhile, the NSW DPI’S Seasonal Conditions Report cites that the Bureau of Meteorology’s rainfall outlook for April to June indicates wetter than normal conditions are likely across western NSW, areas of central NSW and the western Riverina.
The El Niño event has declined to a weak-moderate level, with most modelling suggesting the El Niño event is likely to end shortly, followed by a return to neutral conditions or a La Niña event.
A negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is also possible in winter. If these events occur, conditions during spring are likely to be wetter than normal. However, the accuracy of climate models is low at this time of year.
Primary producers were encouraged to plan ahead for dry conditions, to ensure they are in a better position to manage the impacts.