More than 40mm of rain falls across Victoria’s major cropping regions
Parts of Victoria’s major grain growing regions have recorded more than 40mm of rain over the weekend, giving a boost to early sown winter crops. See where the rain fell.
EARLY sown winter crops have received a boost with parts of Victoria’s major grain growing regions recording more than 40mm of rain over the weekend.
The rain arrived on time — Anzac Day is the traditional start date for most winter cropping programs in southeast Australia — and ahead of budget, following a widespread autumn break across most regions earlier this month.
More rain is forecast this week with parts of Victoria’s North East and southern NSW in line for more than 100mm.
The best falls over the weekend were in the Wimmera and Mallee with Donald picking up 41mm, followed by Birchip (39mm), Woomelang (38mm), Warracknabeal (34mm), Murrayville (32mm) and Nhill (31mm). Jeparit recorded 27mm, Longerenong and Ultima each recorded 24mm and Horsham (22mm).
In northern Victoria, the best falls were at Charlton (38mm), Korong Vale (32mm), Kerang (26mm), Bendigo (25mm), Dunolly (24mm), and Echuca, Kyabram and Strathfieldsaye (23mm) while Strathbogie topped the readings in the North East with 27mm, ahead of Wrightley (26mm) and Mitta Mitta (23mm).
In central Victoria, Taggerty received 52mm, ahead of Kinglake (31mm), Coldstream (29mm), Yarck (27mm), Heathcote (26mm), Castlemaine (24mm) and Lancefield (23mm) while Balook and Warragul recorded top billing in Gippsland with 27mm ahead of Thorpdale (26mm), Jindivick (25mm) and Darnum (22mm).
Smaller totals were recorded in the Western District with Beaufort recording 25mm and Hamilton 10mm.
In Victoria and southern NSW this month, the best falls have been at Redesdale (152mm), Forbes NSW (148mm), Lake Eildon (131mm), Parkes (110mm), Bendigo and Charlton (102mm), Wycheproof (95mm), Young NSW (93mm), Ballarat and Castlemaine (89mm), Grenfell (88mm), Hay NSW and Benalla (87mm), Hillston NSW (84mm) and Birchip (81mm).
For the year-to-date the best rain has been at Lake Eildon (296mm), the Latrobe Valley (283mm), Redesdale (266mm), Geelong (262mm), Yarram (261mm), Castlemaine (254mm), Avalon (253mm), Bairnsdale (249mm) and Sale (245mm).
In the Wimmera and Mallee, Birchip has picked up 190mm so far this year, followed by Charlton (180mm), Hopetoun (176mm), Kerang (174mm), Wycheproof (172mm), Nhill (150mm) and Horsham (147mm).
Southern NSW’s best falls have been at West Wyalong (288mm), Cowra (255mm), Goulburn (250mm), Narrandera and Tumbarumba (248mm), Bega (241mm), Young (240mm), Albury (233mm) and Cootamundra (227mm).
The Bureau of Meteorology’s eight-day outlook, issued this morning, points to rain across most parts of southeast Australia in the next week. The best rain of 100mm-plus is forecast for elevated areas of the North East and southern NSW. The Wimmera and Mallee is predicted to receive 10-25mm.
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