Big rain sets season up for Riverina farmer

HE may have had 60ha of his crops under water but Riverina farmer Alastair Robb is far from upset.

NEWS: Rain at Lowesdale NSW

HE might have had 60ha of his crops under water but Riverina farmer Alastair Robb is far from upset.

The 73mm that fell across his Lowesdale, NSW, farm last week was one of the biggest downpours he has seen in years.

The rain, which fell over three days, has given the crops of wheat, canola, oats and lupins at least a month of moisture.

“This rain was heaven-sent,” Mr Robb said.

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“We had about 60ha of crops under water but it has gradually soaked in and now that is back to about 10ha.

“It was a brilliant rain — it fell over a big number of hours.”

Mr Robb said the season was now looking promising but not assured.

“We always need rain in spring but it is very good to have this much soil moisture now,” he said.

“It can start to warm up in mid-August and that is when the crops will need moisture.

“We could now go for a month or so without rain and still be OK.”

Rain in Lowesdale