Season in NSW makes dramatic comeback from drought
After successive years of drought, parts of central-west NSW are making a dramatic seasonal comeback.
PARTS of central-west NSW are making a dramatic seasonal comeback after successive years of drought.
Some centres in the major grain growing region have recorded more rain so far this year than they did during 2018 and 2019 combined.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, 409mm of rain has fallen at Condobolin so far in 2020 — nearly three times the 145mm it received for the whole of last year — while nearby Parkes has received more than 465mm, double the 230mm recorded during 2019.
It is a similar story at Dubbo where 423mm has fallen so far this calendar year compared to just 211mm for the whole of last year.
Forbes is also tracking well above average with 441mm, compared to 236mm in 2019 and 320mm in 2018.
West Wyalong has already had 150mm more than it did last year and Cowra 132mm more.
Jarrod and Emma Amery, who farm south of Forbes, described the turnaround in seasons as “insane”. The Amerys have received 377mm of rain so far this year compared to a long-term annual average of about 525mm. Last year they recorded just 154mm.
With 1300ha of wheat, 600ha barley and 450ha of canola powering out of the ground, Mr Amery described growing conditions as “excellent”. The Amerys’ cropping program kicked off at the end of February with 170ha of grazing wheat, which has “just grown beserk”. In a further win, the family’s fertiliser costs are also well down this year thanks to high nitrogen levels left in the soil from successive years of failed crops.
“Most of my paddocks have got enough nitrogen in the soil to achieve (yields of) five tonnes to the hectare or more at 11.5 per cent protein or more,” Jarrod said.
MORE
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.