Disease pressure has emerged as the biggest threat to winter crops this season, with some growers already up to three spray applications and concerned about forward selling due to risk.

Blackleg, sclerotinia, aphids, warm conditions, rain and the lack of frost were all adding to the risk across Victoria, southern NSW and South Australia, even where full soil-moisture profiles had set crops up well and there was talk of a bumper season.

At Mallala in South Australia, Richard Konzag said he had a fungicide program planned for years like this and so far that forward planning and prevention had kept disease in check.

“At this stage we haven’t had any diseases that got away in crops. We are pretty happy with where we are sitting at the moment.”

He said fungicide had already gone across all crops, with more still to go on lentils, and wheat would likely need more protection than usual.

“Normally we can get away with one spray in wheat, it will now mean two (sprays) for wheat. Unless it comes in really wet in late September and October and we might have to go with a third.”

He said the season had otherwise shaped up well after two dry years.

“The crops are looking exceptional and we are very fortunate,” he said.

Mr Konzag said the district had received 35mm so far in August and 273mm for the year to date, with well-drained soils helping keep paddocks accessible for ground rig spraying.

At Brocklesby in southern NSW, Justin Everitt said the pressure was much more prevalent than normal.

“There is disease pressure and especially in the southern part of the state, there has been a lot of sprays going out and fungicide is hard to come by.”

With prices for canola delivered to Geelong as high as $820 this week some growers were locking in while others remained cautious, mainly because of the disease risk.

“I can understand people holding back on forward selling due to disease,” he said.

Mr Everitt said the main culprits were blackleg and sclerotinia in canola and then there was additional pressure on cereals as well.

While farmers had welcomed the absence of frost he said frost could actually slow the disease cycle down.

Costs were continuing to mount with margins getting tighter while farmers did what they could to protect the crop.

“It’s going to be an expensive year, the margins are tighter than ever,” Mr Everitt said.

There was a contrast at Moree in northern NSW and Matthew Madden said disease pressure was overall low simply because July and August had been dry.

“The leaves on crops are just not getting wet and staying wet,” he said.