Mixed results for autumn rainfall
Anzac Day has come and gone, and some farmers in western Victoria are still desperately awaiting the autumn break.
Anzac Day has come and gone, and some farmers in western Victoria are still desperately awaiting the autumn break.
April Klobe, who runs a self-replacing Merino flock of 1200 ewes on 182ha at Bulart, said the farm hadn’t received a significant downpour since just after Christmas.
“We were green right through and up to Christmas, but when (the rain) shut off, it really shut off,” she said.
“You know it’s a bit desperate when you’re looking at the rain gauge after heavy dew to see if there’s a millilitre in there.”
With 94mm of rain for the year so far, April said she has had to rely on four-year-old hay to top up the roughage for her flock, and is feeding grain to her ewes at full ration.
“The stock still look good, but it’s getting cold, we haven’t had rain, and we’re running out of feed,” she said.
“If it does get wet, and there’s no growth, we could be feeding right through winter until the warmth kicks in again. So that’s the worry now.”
Complicating the situation is that April will begin lambing next week.
“The issue for me is that I’m probably one of the first (people) in the area to start lambing, and when you feed grain, there can be a lot of mismothering because the ewes come up to the grain and leave their lambs … so it’s something I’ll have to consider dropping back.”
And even with plenty of rainwater tanks, April said she is for the first time considering buying drinking water due to the dry spell, and said it’s an issue impacting everyone.
“The thing is it’s not just affecting the farmers … when things are tight, and people aren’t spending money, it’s a ripple effect. Especially in a rural community.”
Victoria has had mixed results this autumn, with some pockets not recording any rainfall two thirds into the crucial season for winter crops and livestock production.
Near Geelong, Avalon got 50.6mm of rainfall, Swan Hill recorded 22.4mm for the same period, and Mortlake 41.6mm, while Avoca has seen just 0.2mm.
Widespread rain forecast for key ag regions
Farming districts across the country are expecting handy rainfall numbers in the next eight days.
Where the rain has fallen in 2024
Southern NSW is in the seasonal box seat but South Australia and Victoria are feeling the effects of a lack of crucial autumn rain. See where the rain has and hasn’t fallen.