After years of dry conditions and drought, farmers have been forced to sew cereal on cereal crops but with recent rainfall and increased levels of soil moisture farmers are now breaking the cycle with canola crops.

Wagga Wagga district agronomist Lisa Castleman confirmed the increased sowings.

“We are definitely seeing an increase in canola crops in the Riverina,” Ms Castleman said.

“Lockhart area alone has planted 15,000 hectares of canola,” she said.

“There were some crops of canola affected in Lockhart by locust plagues however they were caught early enough and re-sown,” she said.

Agronomists say the main reason farmers are making the switch is falling wheat prices and canola prices remaining strong.

“Strong rainfall in March and over 20mm of rainfall twice in May have made for good soil and moisture conditions for canola,” Ms Castleman said.

“Tougher starts from dry seasons meant years of no rotation for some farmers, they now have the confidence to break the cycle of wheat on wheat with canola crops,” she said.

Agronomist Bob Moorefield of Landmark Lockhart said seed sales were stronger than previous years.

“The interest in canola came late but the seed sales are definitely up from previous years and canola crops are up by 20-30% in the Riverina area, any downward pressure like price falls for wheat, sees farmers looking for an alternative and we are seeing it with canola this year,” Mr Moorefield said.

“Farmers have been hesitant in the past to sow canola as it needs to have the right conditions of good moisture and soil to be profitable, but great rainfall over the last couple of months has created these conditions giving the farmers confidence to make the switch from wheat to canola,” he said.