Golden canola blooms light up Australian paddocks
Australia's third-most valuable crop is flowering across southern paddocks, attracting farmers and Instagram visitors alike.
Fields of golden canola are blooming across Australia's southern regions. The scenes draw tourists to rural communities looking for photos.
Farmer Max O'Connor on his 20,000-acre property near Harden in NSW says the spring display is always impressive. Canola is harvested for its oil and ranks as Australia's third most valuable grain crop after wheat and barley.
The country produces about 7 per cent of the world's canola. It exports roughly about 80 per cent of its harvest for cooking oil, cosmetics and industrial use.
Canola is important for crop rotation. It helps farmers control weeds and reduce disease in wheat crops.
The tourism brings welcome income to small towns. But it also poses risks: some visitors trample crops and can spread disease and weeds.
Harvest begins in November, though frost or heavy storms could damage the crop before then.
- 20,000 acres near Harden, NSW
- Property size
- About 7 per cent of worldwide canola
- World production share
Why it mattersCanola is worth billions to Australian farming, and these few months of bloom can make or break the season's profit.
AustraliaThe crop supports thousands of farmers across southern Australia and delivers income to rural towns through spring tourism.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 13 d ago
