By Linda Clarke  February 4 2010

Mid Canterbury arable farmers are making the most of sunny days to harvest their grain crops, putting the nightmare of a wet February last year behind them.

“Everyone is pleased to be moving some wheels and most are still trying to catch up after having crop sit through the grey period (last week),” said Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president Michael Morrow.

 “They are making the most of every hour, but the weather looks settled and has turned enough so no crops should be lost or beyond repair.”

 Wet weather last harvest spelled disaster for many farmers.

 Some crops turned black in the field and others were harvested with a high moisture content or partially sprouted.

 Pendarves farmer Peter Lambie has been keeping a close eye on the weather.

 Dewy mornings have delayed harvest getting underway till well after lunch, and sea breezes haven’t helped the moisture levels drop.

 He said 2009 was a rotten season.

 “We started off okay but the wet weather over Waitangi sprouted wheat and barley, and all the clover was pretty sub-standard. This year is a different story. It is looking good. It will be later but we are hoping for the best.”

 While grass seed crops were looking “ordinary”, peas and traditional cereal crops looked good.

 The Lambies run a mixed sheep and cropping operation, with half the farm under irrigation.

 A possible hook-up to the proposed Acton leg of the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Scheme would give the option of a more intensive cropping regime, or even dairying.

 Elsewhere in the district combine harvesters have been working flat out when the weather has allowed.

 At Lowcliffe, Graeme Harris was behind the wheel of his combine, hoping water restrictions before Christmas would not affect yield; at Methven, Environment Canterbury councillor Angus McKay was putting in long hours in the paddock to wrap up harvest before a change in the weather.

Pictured: Pendarves farmer Peter Lambie checks the moisture level of a barley crop before starting up the harvester. - Photo Carmen Rooney 020210-CR-045