GEELONG's canola crops are forecast to be the best in a decade, with about $25 million worth of crops across the region.
Rural real estate specialist Ken Drysdale of Elders said with more than 20,000ha of canola in the region, he estimates Geelong's canola bounty will top last year's crops.
"Canola in Australia today has proved to be a highly successful crop and it really is going from strength to strength," Mr Drysdale said.
"It's productivity over the nation brings in hundreds of millions of dollars."
Standing among 70ha of canola in full bloom, Leopold farmer Stan Sutas is reaping the benefits.
"I grew barley with a share farmer for quite a while but I changed to canola and I haven't looked back," Mr Sutas said.
"Last year we had great crops but this year, because of the rain we're having, it's growing really great. Canola's going to bring $400 to $500 a tonne it's going up now and it might even go up to $600."
Mr Sutas planted his crop in May and expects the canola season to flourish well into November.
"Look at the photo, it smiles at you," Mr Sutas said.
"Every week it grows another six inches."
Mr Sutas, a former Angus cattle breeder, said bumper canola crops came as a welcome relief for farmers.
"The drought affected a lot of people and the price of cattle went through the roof and we had no rain," he said.
"Now the rain's finally come and everywhere you look the crops are doing well. It's the best year for sure."
Farmers have increasingly looked to canola as both a useful rotation crop and a viable moneymaker, with demand for healthier oils such as canola oil on the rise.
It's largely used in butter and margarine and can also be used for biofuels.
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