More rain forecast for farmers

Wet weather is causing havoc with harvest, shearing and getting stock out of paddocks. See farmers’ own accounts here.

More rain is expected across the eastern states at the end of this week.

According to the Bureau of Meterology’s eight-day forecast, anywhere from 10-150mm of rain is expected across the eastern states.

And while no farmers are complaining, as they’d prefer wet than drought, wet weather in some areas is causing havoc with harvest, shearing and getting stock out of paddocks.

The forecast for more rain this week is also a positive for livestock markets, with producers confident to continue their cattle herd rebuild in the north.

Most of NSW is forecast to receive 10-50mm of rain in the coming week, Victoria is expecting 25-50mm across all areas, while eastern parts of South Australia is forecast to receive 10-50mm and Queensland ranges from 5mm up to 150mm in the far north.

Just over three weeks into the new year, Leigh Creek in outback South Australia has already received more than 55 per cent of the rain it would normally expect in a 12-month period.

Driving down the road past our house pic.twitter.com/cTbFz9kHOE

— Scott Michael (@ScottMichael83) January 24, 2022

Lake Cargelligo in NSW has recorded 194mm for the year — or 46 per cent of its annual average followed by Griffith (141mm or 36 per cent), Albury (214mm or 35 per cent), Narrandera (151mm or 35 per cent). In Western Australia, Kununurra has recorded 280mm for the month so far, followed by Halls Creek with 167mm and Fitzroy Crossing with 157mm.

AgForce Queensland cattle board president Will Wilson said the season across Queensland is “pretty positive” with a bit of a dry patch in the middle of the state.

“The thing people have now is optimism and everyone is optimistic to restock. It is amazing how quickly we can forget seasons,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson said there was some hot weather which was putting pressure on some areas, but “rain can’t be ordered”.

“In the next 10 days there isn’t too much rain expected, so the season could flatten out and we could have a good season rather than a super wet season. Rain in moderation would be good.”

Sheep farmer, Greg Rogers, from Yarto at Booligal, NSW, said while they haven’t had any significant rain since November — even though 130km away at Hay they have had more than 60mm since the start of the year — they were having a good season and everyone in the district was positive.

“It is starting to dry off now, but we had a green Christmas and it’s not often we get a green Christmas.”

Mr Rogers said they are expecting rain at the end of this week and the wind was “from the east so it might happen”.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Steve Harrison from Giffard West said they had, had about 30mm in the area in the past few weeks.

“It’s been difficult weather for those trying to harvest and for hay production. These wet summer conditions typically make the worm issue in sheep hard,” he said.

Mr Harrison said with delays due to weather, and labour shortages, some shearing teams were about a month behind.

Meanwhile, the best falls in the Northern Territory have been at Darwin (249mm), Victoria River Downs (112mm), Elliott (110mm) with Weipa leading the charge in Queensland with 258mm, ahead of Cairns (242mm), Bundaberg (172mm), Miles (110mm) and Burketown (109mm).

The best falls of the year so far in Victoria have been at Omeo (178mm), Gelantipy (116mm), Gabo Island (103mm), Bairnsdale and Benalla (92mm) and Rutherglen (85mm).

GrainProducers South Australia chief executive Brad Perry shared this photo on Twitter of damage from too much rain.

Receiving reports from growers of significant damage to farms and infrastructure on the EP. Some areas have had up to 280mm. The @GrainProducerSA team will continue to gather information on the impacts. Photo: @PetaWillmott@BrookeNeindorf@ABCNorthWest@SA_PIRSApic.twitter.com/8eyy4EsYgo

— Brad Perry (@BPerry0410) January 23, 2022

“GPSA is seeking feedback from grain growers on the damage from rain and flooding so we can get this information into government.”

“Growers in areas of the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula are reporting significant damage with movement of topsoil impacting fences and roads,” Mr Perry said.

He said some areas had up to 320mm in a short period and “they haven’t been able to even see what impact that has had on grain still in bags on their property”.