Drought makes sorghum planting a struggle
Continued dry conditions in cropping areas of Queensland and northern New South Wales have prevented farmers getting sorghum crops planted.
The optimal planting time for sorghum, which is mainly used as stock feed, is September and October.
Grains president with Queensland farmers group AgForce, Wayne Newton, says many farmers have missed that window.
"Currently most growers are still sitting there waiting for rain to arrive," Mr Newton said.
"We haven't seen any really significant or worthwhile rain, in fact, since late July and some farmers haven't seen it for even longer."
Later plantings can occur through until January, but Mr Newton says paddocks are dry and farmers will need more rain if they are to get a crop in.
Grains analyst Nathan Cattle says if the sorghum crop doesn't get planted, feed grain prices in the north will increase even further and could push up prices in southern states.
"The longer it remains dry and the less likelihood of a sorghum crop getting planted and providing some relief to that tight demand situation in the north, the further south feeders are going to have to go to source their feed requirements," he said.
"If the northern areas need to come down to the southern areas to grab the grain to pull it back north to use in their rations, then that's going to underlie prices in the south.
"Ultimately, as you come down to Victoria and South Australia, given the crop sizes, that is still going to be dictated by export values."