Dust wall turns Birchip sky orange, before heavy rain

A RARE wall of dust that turned the sky orange at Birchip has been sent back down to the ground by sudden heavy rain.

A RARE wall of dust that turned the sky orange at Birchip has been sent back down to the ground by sudden heavy rain.

Jemma Pearl, who captured the moment outside the Birchip Cropping Group office, said while raised dust was pretty normal this time of year, it was just “crazy” the way it had completely filled the sky.

Dust filled the sky at Birchip. Picture: Jemma Pearl

Ms Pearl said while it was quite the sight, the loss of soil off property and into the air was unfortunate for farmers.

“A lot of nutrients and others things are tied up in that soil so it’s not great it’s being blown away,” she said.

Within about an hour, the dust was put back in its place by afternoon rain.

Ms Pearl said north of Birchip had received more than 20mm in the last hour.

“It will probably mean people will have to get out spraying again,” she said. “But it will increase soil moisture for this year.”

She said the Birchip Cropping Group will likely capitalise on the opportunity and do an early sowing crop trial.