Key rural areas set to receive rain

Farming districts across the country are expecting handy rainfall numbers in the next eight days.

While some farmers are emptying out the rain gauge, others are waiting and hoping.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s eight-day outlook shows forecast falls of 15mm to 50mm throughout Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, parts of Western Australia and southern Queensland.

Rain has started falling, with the seven-day BOM figures showing falls of 16mm at Bendigo, 11mm at Kerang, 7mm at Swan Hill and Wedderburn and 5mm at Ultima.

In the North East, Albury has measured 14mm and Yarrawonga 12mm.

Some of the best falls in NSW in the past week were in the Western Division with Menindee picking up 56mm in the seven days to Tuesday morning and Broken Hill recording 33mm.

In tandem with the forecast, livestock markets have rallied with the trade lamb indicator at 799.17c/kg and the heavy lamb indicator tracking at 806.08c/kg.

Albury livestock agent David Hill said prices were $20 dearer at Corowa on Monday and many producers in the area still needed rain.

The eastern states young cattle indicator was tracking at 619.05c/kg to represent a lift of 28.30c/kg in the past week.

Nutrien Wagga Wagga livestock manager Peter Cabot said cattle prices had increased because of tighter numbers.

“There has been a bit of rain up north and that has tightened up numbers coming into sales,” Mr Cabot said.

Gorst Rural general manager and agronomist Cameron Conboy of Lake Bolac said his area had received 0.8mm to 3mm by Tuesday morning and farmers were hoping for 10mm later in the week. “We have had 132mm of rain for the year, and 64mm of that was in January,” he said.

Chris Nixon of Orbost. Picture: Andy Rogers

Chris Nixon runs a dairy and beef cattle operation at Orbost and said he has measured 180mm in the gauge in the past two weeks. And another 4.4mm had fallen early this week.

Cropping farmer Chris Drum of Banyena has had 3mm of rain at his place early this week and was expecting up to 10mm on Thursday.

“We have had more than 50mm in the past 35 days,” he said.

Chris Drum at Banyena. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Across the border and into South Australia farmers are still experiencing dry conditions with Richard Konzac of Mallala saying he was hoping there would be some decent rain in the next week.

Early falls from the latest front, had delivered 2mm to the region on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Moree, NSW grain grower Matthew Madden, with grandson Jack.

Moree NSW farmer Matthew Madden said 17mm to 35mm had fallen in his area early this week and it followed on from 15mm last week.