DPI Coleambally district agronomist Kieran O’Keeffe said the mild summer has really helped the maize crop, which could have suffered a lot more with access to irrigation water slashed.

“Maize really does well when the temperature drops lower overnight and we have had a good amount of rain in some areas,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

“Things are looking pretty, most maize is drying off now and it should begin to be harvested in about a month.

“Water use has been good at around 8 megalitres per hectare and hopefully the prices will be good – I think most people will be hoping for around $400 a tonne.”

Local maize producer Allan Irvin said the weather had made for great growing conditions, but added to frustration levels because there wasn’t enough water available to grow a decent size crop.

“We only have a very small amount in, which is frustrating because the weather has been really good. The prices look solid but we don’t have enough water to grow a good amount of maize,” Mr Irvin said.

“It is interesting because a good maize growing year is a bad rice growing year.”