South Australian farmers have produced their largest and most valuable crop on record despite a long, drawn-out harvest.
The Primary Industries and Regions SA's crops and pasture report has found 12.8 million tonnes of grain was produced worth $4.6 billion.
The previous crop production record was 11 million tonnes in 2016-17.
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said it was a great result for farmers and the whole state.
"We know that when agriculture does well the whole state does well and that certainly will be the case this year," Ms Scriven said.
"There's the direct economic boost of course, but then what that means for our regional areas we know that when we have got good seasonal conditions, we've got an excellent harvest then there will be more money spent locally."
Marrabel farmer Kym I'Anson, in South Australia's mid north, said parts of his property produced twice the amount of grain they normally did.
"It was spectacular, we have only just finished less than 10 days ago and it's still hard to believe the year we had," Mr I'Anson said.
It has also been the latest harvest he has experienced by a couple of months.
His best canola yielded 4.8 tonnes to the hectare and this year Mr I'anson was able to harvest 8t/ha of wheat up from his previous best of 6t/ha.
"Certainly feels a lot better than being frosted ... for it all to come together after 20 years of work is a really nice feeling," he said.
Rollercoaster conditions
The final result was not a given though, as large parts of the state didn't receive necessary rain until late May.
It meant most crops emerged much later than normal.
Crops were also suffering from severe moisture stress in July but the cool, wet and largely frost-free spring meant they were able to recover.
Weather damage and disease issues also made if difficult in some areas to realise the full potential of the crop.
Despite the record value, which was well up on the previous record of $3.3 billion in 2021/22, high input costs meant some potential was also lost.
Mid north agronomist Craig Davis said issues with fungicide, lower fertiliser inputs [compared to yield potential], high weed pressure and lodging contributed to lower than expected performance in some areas.
"There have been examples where two tonnes to the hectare was left behind in cereal crops because of more modest inputs," he said.
South Australian farmers produced the most canola on record with the area planted coming at the expense of barley.
Canola tonnages delivered this harvest were up about 84 per cent on the five-year average.
"Growers broke their own personal records of canola grain yield by in the area of a tonne to the hectare in some cases so it was just a phenomenal finish for that crop, very high oil as well," Mr Davis said.
There were 7,330,250 tonnes of wheat produced, more than double the amount grown in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Legumes also performed well with vetch tonnages four times the five-year average and chickpeas three times the average.
Twice the volume of beans, lentils and lupins were produced in 2022/23 against the five-year average.
The rain benefited the Mid North and Lower Eyre Peninsula regions in particular, but the Yorke Peninsula and Upper North also performed better than expected.
