WINTER forage crops are starting to come on in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales as some of the first big frosts of the year dry areas out.

While some parts of Western and Central Qld had a dry finish to summer, further south has been a different story.

Rain has been general and consistent across large parts of the area and, taking to account the forecasted dry summer, many were scrambling to get their hands on oats seed.

Ray White Tamworth agent Scott Simshauser said some of his clients have grown some of their best oats crops ever.

Scott Simshauser

“They’ve done a great job with the oats this year, the luxury is that they put their oats in early and they have just consistently had rain since then,” Mr Simshauser said.

“The good crops go a long way west, I’m not sure how far south it goes, but it certainly is good in this north-west corner of NSW.”

Mr Simshauser said as a generalisation Northern NSW mixed farmers have honed their craft and were getting a lot better at capitalising on the good seasons.

“Some of our farmers in this area are at the top of the game, their equipment is a lot better, science has advanced and we are really seeing that come through in the oats crops,” he said.

“They know how much it costs and they know exactly what they are doing in most cases.”

Not looking for big numbers

Asked whether he thought big numbers of cattle were going to go on oats this year, Mr Simshauser said he was not expecting a rush for big numbers.

“A lot of my clients had the cattle ready in a lot of ways, whether it was their own bred cattle or bought cattle ready for the oats,” he said.

“We are seeing some looking for cattle to put on oats, but it is not like there is a rush out there for big numbers.

“A lot of my clients have a plan, which involves growing oats for certain cattle for a certain market and stick pretty closely to their programs.”

With some other areas drying out, Mr Simshauser said he had received a lot inquiry about agistment – which he said was hard to fill.

“It is very difficult to fill because most of my clients have a plan and it’s not like they have a spare paddock they have forgotten about – they are so well scheduled these days,” he said.

Qld crops looking for a bit more rain

Russell Jorgensen. Photo: AuctionsPlus

Meandarra-based GDL agent Russell Jorgenson said he also wasn’t anticipating a big rush to buy in cattle for to put on forage.

“A lot of cattle are sitting around waiting to go on oats crops, some of the early guys have already put cattle on oats and we might need to buy some in if other crops come on – but I don’t think we are going gangbusters looking for cattle,” Mr Jorgenson said.

He said while the area has had good growing rain, a little bit more in the next couple of weeks is needed.

“Our local area definitely needs another inch for the winter forage to really kick along and I have been hearing the same thing around Roma and some areas to the north,” Mr Jorgenson said.

“Our late summer and autumn have been wonderful we are still as good at this time of the year as we have been – we have our hay shed full and we are going along well.

“Winter has come on in the last couple of weeks and frost has knocked us around a bit this week. But it is the end of June, so it should be like this – we have our hay shed full and we are waiting for the forage to come on.”