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AS HARVEST runs well into the new year, Wimmera farmers are getting frustrated about the slow pace.
Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Brett Hosking said weather conditions and high yields meant the crop was taking longer than anticipated to get off.
“Harvesters need to drive slower because there is so much grain coming in, so it is a good problem to have,” he said.
“Harvesting hours have also been a bit limited, it has been dewy and often quite cold in the mornings for this time of year so people have not been able to get going particularly early.”
Rain on Boxing Day halted harvest in the region, followed by cooler temperatures at the weekend.
Horsham district farmer Tim Rethus said he had about two weeks of harvest still to go.
“The late harvest is taking it’s toll,” he said.
“We’ve got barley that’s going to ground with the heads snapping off.
“The whole logistics of harvest has been difficult too with slow speeds and long unloading times at silos – but everyone is in the same boat.
“We are still getting more tonnes an hour than we are used to.”
Warracknabeal farmer Ross Johns said overall it had been a long and arduous harvest.
“There has been challenges with the weather and things like getting spare parts delivered,” he said.
Rupanyup farmer Peter Teasdale said harvest had been slow and frustrating this season.
“We’ve got a lot of handy looking crops but it’s been frustrating trying to work through the logistics of it over the Christmas and New Year period,” he said.
“We’ve had to deal with shorter hours and sites not being open because of the holidays.”
GrainCorp operations manager Nigel Lotz said the company cracked 10 million tonnes in receivals overall in the week before Christmas.
It is the first time since 2012-13 the company has reached the 10 million tonnes mark.
Mr Lotz said there was still significant tonnages still to come in through Victoria, so the figure would continue to increase.