Oat crops grown for fodder across northern Victoria could yield up to two tonnes a hectare more than average this season, according to one export hay grower.

An additional 40mm of rain across the district at the weekend has added to the confidence, with Rochester grower Shayne Eeles saying the season is shaping up to be one that delivers good yields. Across Elmore, Rochester and surrounding areas, paddocks are powering ahead, and Shayne said a thriving oat crop, that would ultimately be cut for export hay, was a good snapshot of how other paddocks were looking across the district.

“There’s going to be a fair bit of hay around,” he said.

Shayne said most growers would usually work on an average of about five tonnes a hectare, but many oat crops this year were on track to produce closer to seven.

He said all going well the crop was destined for the export market, with oaten hay from the region regularly sent to countries including Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Middle East.

While the recent rain had been welcomed, Shayne said growers would now be happy to see it ease off for a while.

“We don’t need any more for now, but it’s better than the alternative of being dry.”

He said the oat crop would be cut for hay in early October, depending on weather and the growth stage.

While crops had overall benefited from winter rain, he said there were some signs of waterlogging, with low-lying paddocks affected.

“There are some parts that might face disease pressure,” he said.