WIMMERA farmers are nearing the end of a disappointing season, with headers expected to return to sheds by mid-December.
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While little rain has led to farmers describing the season as cruel, many are finding yields are better than originally expected.
Natimuk farmer Michael Sudholz said he started stripping canola earlier this week.
"It's been a bit up and down - the first paddock went for about 0.4 tonnes a hectare and the second about 0.7 to 0.8 tonnes a hectare," he said.
"It is a bit more than I expected though - I didn't think the crops would do as well as they have after three months without rain.
"It's good to have some good news."
Mr Sudholz said harvest was underway much earlier than usual.
"We had a bumper season last year and we did that in 16 days - I'm guessing we will need a lot less time this year," he said.
"Depending on the weather, we hope to finish canola and move onto lentils soon."
Mr Sudholz said it wasn't the worst season he had experienced.
"I've definitely seen poorer years than this and we seem to manage things better these days," he said.
"We have more options - we cut 700 acres of wheat that we baled for hay and the sales were quite strong - we have nearly sold it all.
"It's about making the most from what you've got."
Hindmarsh Cr Wendy Robins said crops around Nhill were also doing better than farmers expected.
"No one is jumping up and down, but farmers are saying the crops are nowhere near as bad as initially thought," she said.
Hindmarsh Cr Ron Ismay said crops near Birchip and Beulah were fairly ordinary.
"Rainbow seems to be the Garden of Eden though," he said,
"I think overall everyone is surprised with what they are getting for their crops.
"In a normal year a small amount of rain in one area wouldn't make a difference, but the eight or nine millimetres we received not long ago has changed everything.
"I think Hindmarsh shire is fortunate in what the farmers will receive for their crops."
Rupanyup farmer and Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann said he was two-thirds of the way through harvest.
"We are at about 25 per cent of our normal production," he said.
"This has been the year to put behind us and farmers are looking forward to 2015, which will hopefully give us a bit of rain."
Mr Weidemann said he expected most of the region's farmers to be finished harvest by mid-December.
"Because the crops are so small, harvest is getting across enormous amounts of land each day," he said.
"I'd say by next week, most of the region will be well into wheat and then probably finished not long after that.
"We usually start around November 23 to 25 - it's crazy to think we might be done this year at the time when we usually start."
The Federal Government announced this week it would deliver $30 million in drought concessional loans to farmers in Victoria's west and north west.
Farmers will be able to lodge their applications, once the guidelines are finalised, early in the new year.
Farmers can apply for drought loans of up to $1 million at a concessional interest rate of four per cent over five years.
The loans can be used to cover operating expenses.