Rain continues for drought parched Victoria

Showers brought some relief this week, but farmers say conditions remain challenging, with below-average rainfall, cold temperatures and wild winds hitting lambing season. See where the rain fell.

Updated: Additional rain on Tuesday evening has boosted the seven-day total for many farming districts with falls of close to 100mm recorded in some parts.

Across the border in NSW farmers didn’t miss out either and while falls were more subdued there was still good rain in the catchments.

Bureau of Meteorology rainfall figures for the past seven days to Wednesday morning show

Upper Buckland received 98mm; Alexandra, 55mm; Bobinawarrah, 48mm; Biggara, 64mm; Berringama, 54mm; Hinnomunjie, 54mm; Strathbogie, 41mm; Wangaratta, 38mm; Yarrawonga, 36mm; Omeo, 32mm; Mansfield, 31mm; and Ensay, 21mm.

In NSW Tumbarumba, 60mm; Mulwala, 33mm; Tooma, 32mm; Narrandera, 26mm; Deniliquin, 22mm; Orange, 22mm; Gunning, 21mm; Yanco, 21mm; Crookwell, 19mm and Wellington, 19mm.

Westmere farmer Graeme McCrow. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Westmere farmer Graeme McCrow said more showers were coming through his place on Wednesday and, up until then, he had received 15mm for the week.

The falls were welcome, but rainfall was still well down on the average annual amount.

So far for the year, he has measured just 165mm. The area has an average annual rainfall of 550mm.

In addition to the rain, the area was also whipped with wild winds and colder temperatures.

“We will take the rain, but it is not good lambing weather,” he said.

Mr McCrow said crops had emerged, but there had been some staggered germination.

“I think this rain will help, and we are going to see more today,” he said.

Up until Tuesday Corowa agronomist Paul Lavis of IK Caldwell said there were reports of 6mm to 50mm in the area, and the falls had been pretty patchy.

“The front went through and didn’t come to the east,” he said.

Mr Lavis said the rain was welcome, and most crops in the area had emerged with canola at full ground cover.

Corowa agronomist Paul Lavis of IK Caldwell. Picture: Supplied

Greta farmer Scott Flanigan said a “very welcome” 21mm fell at his place on Monday night, and he had heard of up to 55mm nearby.

“It is much needed, and there is more coming,” he said.

In the Western District, farmers were still waiting and hoping for the forecast 15mm to arrive on Tuesday evening or Wednesday.

Gorst Rural general manager Cam Conboy said 10 days ago, the region received an excellent reprieve from the dry season after recording falls of 30mm to 100mm.

“It is amazing how quickly it has soaked in, and farmers are now looking for more,” he said.

“The countryside looks like it has been painted green with a green tinge everywhere, but still no feed of any substance … a hay truck goes down the road every 10 minutes.”

Nanneella farmer Jason Palmer grows irrigated and dryland crops. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Nanneella farmer Jason Palmer grows irrigated and dryland crops and runs a feedlot. He said 5mm to 6mm fell at his place on Monday night.

“We have more coming. It is just enough to keep things ticking along,” he said.

Mr Palmer said the crops on irrigation country were looking magnificent, but anything that was dryland was still coming through.

Across the border at Holbrook in the eastern Riverina Brett Strong said 21.5mm of rain fell on Monday night.

“I was out sowing until 8pm on Monday, and we had some rain go through at about 6.30pm,” he said.

“We are expecting more.”

Mr Strong had been sowing oats and, in the past, had sown as late as July, so it was reassuring that some rain had arrived for those crops.

Originally published as Rain continues for drought parched Victoria