Late rain tests sorghum planting boundaries

Rainfall tallies continue to climb following another week of scattered monsoonal storms stretching from the tropical north down to the southernmost parts of the state. Most of the state's cropping areas recorded a further 20 millimetres to 30mm in the past week.

Much of the Central Highlands have received upwards of 100mm for January. Rainfall totals have been more variable in Southern Queensland, ranging from 100mm to 150mm in the central Darling Downs to 60mm to 100mm in the western Downs and Maranoa.

Importantly, the rain has fallen over multiple days allowing it to infiltrate into the parched soils.

The January rain is timely for the Central Highlands where farmers are happy to plant into late summer to shield crops from the heat. Sorghum and mung bean plantings are already underway. Other farmers are opting for forage crops as they look to ease the acute shortage of pasture.

Lateness of the rains in Southern Queensland will test the normal planting boundaries for grain sorghum. Most farmers will plant into early January, but this is generally seen as late. High prices and the need for cash flow are likely to test this normal planting window's boundaries.

Forage crops will also be planted in Southern Queensland as farmers chase cattle feed and possibly hay.

Cattle prices have rocketed higher following the widespread soaking rain across the pastoral expanses in the South West, Central West and North West of the state. Feedlots have remained active buyers at the higher prices.

Grain prices remain well supported following the rain with any potential summer crop supplies still months away from harvest. Stockfeed wheat bids into the Darling Downs are still holding at $460 a tonne with barley at $405.

Wheat and barley prices kicked in other states late last week on reports of a large wheat export sale. China reportedly bought as much as 500,000 tonnes of ASW wheat in recent weeks. The unconfirmed reports caught traders off-guard sending prices sharply higher. Drought cut Australia's wheat crop to a 13-year low, but also making it expensive for importers compared to other origins.

Western Australian wheat bids jumped $10 following reports of the sale to China. Southern markets were also sharply higher with some traders saying some of the wheat may be shipped from Victoria.