District Reports - Greenmount Press

districtreportsw55…DISTRICT REPORTSto store grain on farm with a view to selling when pricesimprove.Planting of the bulk of the crop will occur in earlyOctober as temperatures increase. Moisture will be at apremium and all steps will be taken to utilise what is inthe bed and stopping it from drying out too quickly.All fingers are crossed for massive inflows into BurrendongDam so that there can be a huge revival in theirrigated cropping industry in this area.Craig McDonaldOctober 1, 2009Southern NSWThe start to the 2009–10 season has been one of thetoughest experienced for a long time. In Hay there havebeen only three days over 25°C between September 20and October 8 and only two nights over 12°C. In additionthere have been five nights under 5°C in the past10 days.Area for the 2009–10 crop is going to be approximately3500 hectares for the Lachlan/Murrumbidgee.Planting started as early as September 10 with a growersowing into moisture and taking advantage of a coupleof days of early heat (see photo below taken on September23).The majority of growers have planted a proportion ofcrop between September 20 and October 8. Growersare now playing the waiting game to determine the effectsof the latest cold snap.The challenge is we are now running out of seasonlength as historically it has been beneficial to have allcrops planted and watered by October 15. Thereare quite a few fields sown dry with growers studyingweather forecasts closely in anticipation of an increasein temperature.The Lachlan is still without a river allocation yet theMurrumbidgee has received three per cent general security.This has resulted in temporary water prices fallingto approximately $200 per meg. Unfortunately the announcementwas a little late for a significant increase incotton area.James HillOctober 8, 2009Answer to Ian’sMystery Tractor QuizThe tractor is a genuine Aussie. It is a 1935 Ronaldson-Tippett 18-30 Super Drive, manufactured in Ballarat,Victoria. The only non-Australian content was theAmerican Wisconsin engine. The photo shows Ian at thecontrols of a magnificently restored example on displayat the Pioneer Settlement Village, Swan Hill, Victoria.Advertiser’s IndexAgricultural Appointments..... 2AgriRisk...............................11Aquatech Consulting............ 23Barcoo..................................14Caltex.................................. 37Cargill Cotton...................... 30Case IH.................................. 5Charlton.............................. 40Cotton Grower Services........IFCCotton Outlook................... IBCCountryco Training.............. 39CSD....................................... 7Dinner Plain.................... 1, 32drumMUSTER........................ 3Excel Ag...............................13Ipswich Girls’ Grammar....... 36John Deere ........................8, 9Monsanto.............................19Moree Real Estate............... 30Namoi Cotton...................... 33Neils Parts........................... 39Queensland Cotton.............. 31SMK Consultants.................... 2Study Tours................... 35, 49Sumitomo.........................OBCUltimate Agri-Products......... 21Valmont...............................17Volvo Penta Oceania.............15Westfield Augers..................4156 — THE AUSTRALIAN COTTONGROWER OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2009