SOUTH West fronts, north west troughs, thunderstorms and hail has put the start of WA's harvest on hold.
The good news is that dams throughout the Wheatbelt are filling and pastures are flush with new growth.
The bad news is a big question mark over grain quality and a renewed focus on spray topping to control weeds.
According to CBH Geraldton port zone manager Duncan Gray, 320,000 tonnes of grain poured into the bin last week boosting the zone total to 450,000t.
But by Thursday, rain had halted operations and this week farmers were waiting for crops to dry out to resume programs.
Esperance CBH port zone manager Mick Daw also reported a cessation of harvest throughout the zone.
"Things were really cranking by last Wednesday but rain on Thursday and Friday saw everybody come to a grinding halt," he said.
"We've only got 52,000 tonnes in the bins and this week has been quiet as well because of frontal rain."
It was a similar situation throughout the CBH Kwinana port zone where manager Brett Jeffrey reported between 10mm and 60mm of rain being recorded in all districts.
"Some guys reported recording more rain in October than for the entire growing season," he said.
"Harvest activity had kicked into gear last week but by Thursday it all stopped."
Albany port zone manager Greg Thornton said harvest had just started last week when it came to an abrupt halt on Friday.
"We've recorded between 25mm and 85mm throughout the zone with more forecast rain so we're expecting a quiet week," he said.
"We only have 7000 tonnes delivered."
Districts in the central Great Southern could be the main beneficiaries of recent rains.
Cranbrook farmer Jock Clapin had recorded 25mm on his property over the last two weeks with more forecast this week.
"Crops are still green and canola is about 10 days off swathing," he said.
"The rain has done more good than harm for us and I would rate the finish as one of the best in the last seven years.
"The only downside is some stock feed damage."
At Broomehill, local farmer Phil Anderson said 80mm of rain had benefited crops but damaged hay.
"The upside is that dams are full so water and feed won't be an issue for us over summer," he said.
According to fellow Broomehill farmer Cam Taylor the rain was "sensational".
"We got a couple of inches which will benefit the wheat and barley and yields look above average," he said.
"Quality should be okay if it stops raining.
"But we've been lucky because some guys have copped more rain that has damaged some crops."
At Borden Phil O'Meehan said between 50mm and 75mm had been recorded on his property since last Thursday.
"The rain won't help us and we'll finish with only average yields," he said.
"We've copped a dry spell through the growing season and the rain will damage the barley which will probably go all feed.
"But we're hopeful the wheat stands up and quality is good."
West Arrino farmer Tony Harding summed up the situation in Mid West districts saying yields and quality would be variable.
"I think the rain already has affected crops but we'll have to wait and see to what extent," he said.
"We're all hoping for a run of fine weather to get into the crops."
Kukerin farmer Paul King was looking at cranking up his third knockdown spraying program to keep weeds under control after 27mm was recorded last Thursday on his property.
"Some neighbours got up to 70mm so dams are being filled and feed is kicking away which means we'll have to do another spray," he said.
"The barley is stained so that will go feed but the wheat is okay and we're hopeful we'll get above average yields with some quality."
Farmers along the South Coast will be swapping headers for sprayers this week to control weeds.
A typical comment came from Condingup farm manager Peter May who has started harvesting canola last week before 48mm of rain stopped operations last Thursday.
"As soon as we get crops off we'll be back spraying," he said.
"The rain has been beneficial in terms of run-off into dams and it has got us out of jail for summer.
"All we want now is a run of hot weather to get crops off.
"The wheat is looking about 2.5t/ha while the barley may average 2t/ha."
West at Munglinup, Andrew Bott was hopeful 70mm of rain last weekend would benefit crops.
"I think damage will be minimal," he said.
"Quality still looks okay at this stage.
"We're planning to start canola this week but forecast rain will probably slow operations."
Cascades farmer Greg Curnow already has experienced frustrations with harvest via bogged vehicles.
"We've had 150mm of rain over the last fortnight and I think it will affect the wheat quality," he said.
"We're harvesting canola and field peas at the moment and we're happy with the canola going about 2t/ha average with 43 per cent oil."
