Rains could give WA record grain harvest

Hopes of a record grain harvest have been buoyed by what farmers describe as a excellent start to the season.

Heavy falls across parts of the Wheatbelt have given many farmers the perfect start to the grain growing season.

Commodity traders last year predicted this year's harvest could reach 17 million tonnes, well above the 11 million tonne average, through a combination of good rains and better farming practices.

The president of Western Australian Farmers Federation, Mike Norton, is optimistic about the season.

"The general attitude of farmers now is that is quite ecstatic this is an excellent start to the growing season for western australia over a very wide area," he said.

However, Mr Norton warns there is a long way to go, although the wettest start to a season in 50 years has given grain growers a head start.

One farmer still waiting on rain is John Nicoletti in the Great Southern.

He says that while it might be a great start in other parts of the state his farm has only got a few millimetres over the past week.

"It's still early days yet, I haven't got to the panic station yet but you know if I don't get a decent rain within the next two weeks then we'll have to reassess the amount of acres that we are going to plant," he said.