HAY cutting season has already kicked off for Wimmera farmers with yields looking favourable across the region.
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Natimuk farmer Brian Klowss said he had started cutting a paddock of frosted wheat hay on Wednesday.
"The frost is worse this year than last year," he said.
"We had a really heavy rain pass over a few weeks ago just on dark. Because it didn't have time to dry out, and the night was really cold, it froze up and went white overnight. That frost killed a paddock of clover for feed too."
Mr Klowss said he would keep the majority of his hay to help feed his 4000 sheep.
"I will sell all the clover hay though," he said.
He said he was concerned more frosts might occur in coming weeks.
"Going forward I think there will be more frost damage in the region. People need to go check on their crops because I didn't know mine had been damaged until a week later," he said.
Brimpaen farmer Luke Dunn said he planned to cut about 120 hectares of hay.
"We're not big hay cutters and haven't started yet. But the conditions are favourable and we've seen some really good growth in the paddocks. We're expecting to get good yield," he said.
Mr Dunn said he planned to sell some of his hay this year.
"We didn't sell any last year, but we've got a big stock up in a couple of sheds for ourselves and will sell some this year because the stock is good," he said.
He said he wasn't sure when he'd start harvesting.
Rainbow farmer Brett Fisher said he had already cut 400 acres of vetch hay and planned to cut 300 acres of oats, which will be mainly exported.
"The vetch is looking really good and we were able to get an early start on it. I think yields will be slightly above above," he said.
"The oats are looking good too, but they need a little longer. It will definitely be a better crop than last year."
Mr Fisher said he wasn't sure when he'd start cutting cereals.
Wallup farmer Bruce Crafter said he started cutting hay on September 24.
"We've done 190 hectares of vetch, which is looking really good but really anything would be better than last year," he said.
"It will mostly be sold. We'll keep a little for our own stock, but there's quite a lot still from last year."
He expected prices wouldn't be as high as last year's.
"People have really taken a hit during the last year. This region is really the only area that is growing feed," he said.
"There's been a lot of hay cutting up north in the Mallee, but not a lot of bulk. They are mainly cutting it because they need to, not because they want to. Hopefully we can avoid that."
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