JUNE has brought mixed blessings for Victoria's grain farmers.
While some regions have had above-average rainfall, rain has not been consistent across the state.
The Wimmera and the Mallee recorded above-average rainfall at some centres, leading VFF grains group president and Wycheproof farmer Russell Amery to say it was the best start he had seen for seven or eight years.
Swan Hill recorded more than 20mm above the average for June, while rain in Kerang, Mildura and Horsham was also above average.
However, in other parts of the state the picture was not so rosy, with Bairnsdale recording 40mm less rain than average for June.
Albury, Geelong and Yarrawonga were also below average for June.
Numurkah farmer Bob Watters said the season was looking good, if he ignored the warning of an impending El Nino by Japanese forecasters.
"I don't trust any long-range forecasts," Mr Watters said.
He has sown his farm to 60 per cent canola and 40 per cent wheat," Mr Watters said.
"Canola can be lucrative but it is high risk, and there are great benefits to the soil."
Bordertown grain grower Jeff Arney said the season had so far been good.
"The beans have never looked better," Mr Arney said.
"We've had 30mm for June but we would like more rain."
Co-operative Bulk Handling regional grain manager for southeast Australia Georgina Whiting said conditions were good around Naracoorte and slightly better near Keith.
"Naracoorte seemed to miss out on rain," Ms Whiting said.
She said sowing had finished across most of the region and if there were good springs rains farmers could expect average to above-average yields.
Ms Whiting said there appeared to be a swing to wheat this year as wheat prices were stronger than barley.
She said the Wimmera and Mallee were looking a bit better than last year and grower confidence was higher than it had been for the past few years.
"They're quietly confident but they are concerned about the long-range forecast of an El Nino," Ms Whiting said.
"They would like another rain event."
However, across the state, at Balliang, south of Bacchus Marsh, rain is desperately needed.
Grain grower Eric Sharkey said when the Mallee received good rain in June, only 3mm fell on his property.
Then when there was another good downpour in the Mallee a week later, only 6mm fell on his property.
"What's up is looking reasonable but there's no moisture in the seed bed," Mr Sharkey said.
"It's surviving on a bit of mist overnight."
Mr Sharkey said Balliang was in a bit of a rain shadow, with fronts moving across the Western District, then across the Bellarine Peninsula.
"We always were a borderline area, but now we're below borderline," Mr Sharkey said.
"The crops that are up are not doing too badly, but what we don't want is a month of windy and dry weather."
