Rainfall 2022: Farmers record one of their best-ever starts to the season

Some farmers are revelling in one of their best-ever seasons having recorded more than a year’s worth of rain within five months — but who has missed out?

Farmers in parts of Australia are revelling in one of their best-ever seasons having recorded more than a year’s worth of rain within five months.

Of the 213 weather stations nationally routinely monitored by The Weekly Times, 21 have already surpassed their long-term average rainfall total with seven months of the year remaining. Thirty-four stations have recorded at least 90 per cent of their annual rain with 101 tracking at more than 60 per cent.

Farmers across most parts of eastern Australia have recorded a wetter-than-average start to the year.

The best rain versus the long-term average has been in NSW, Western Australia and Queensland.

Nowra on the NSW South Coast is leading the way with 1491mm of rain for the year so far equalling 171 per cent of its long-term calendar year average. It is followed by Tibooburra NSW, which has recorded 280mm for the year so far, or 154 per cent of its 12-month average, Broome WA (906mm or 145 per cent) and Moss Vale (945mm or 139 per cent) and Broken Hill (317mm or 128 per cent) in NSW.

Toowoomba in southeast Queensland has recorded 871mm of rain for the year, or 124 per cent of what it would expect in a given year. Other NSW centres already surpassing their 12-month averages include Lake Cargelligo, Grafton, Casino, Dorrigo, Bega, Narrandera, Wilcannia, Goulburn, Mt Hope and Ivanhoe.

Temora NSW livestock agronomist Jordan Arthur from QPL Rural Real Estate said the year-to-date rainfall was tracking ahead of last year and creating some challenges.

“Some areas are too wet and there are growers that are having to resow crops,” Mr Arthur said. “There has been a lot of water lying on country and in those places, the seed has burst. While it may be a bit too much rain at the moment, we know we are going to have a ripping season and get good yields.”

At the other end of the scale, parts of Western Australia and South Australia have recorded less than 20 per cent of their annual average so far, including Narrogin WA (89mm or 18 per cent of its 12-month average) and Karoonda (65mm or 19 per cent) and Kingston SE (115mm or 20 per cent) in South Australia.

In Victoria, the best rain of the year so far has been in the Mallee with Mildura’s 210mm equivalent to 73 per cent of its annual average. It is followed by Swan Hill (203mm or 68 per cent), Gelantipy (490mm or 63 per cent), Ouyen (204mm or 62 per cent), Omeo (396mm or 62 per cent), Bairnsdale (390mm or 61 per cent), Warracknabeal (235mm or 60 per cent) and Kerang (223mm or 60 per cent).

Meanwhile, there were good falls across southeast in the past week with winter starting off on a soggy note in most districts, including southwest Victoria where farmers had endured a drier-than-average start to autumn.

In the seven days to 9am on Monday, Casterton picked up 66mm with Portland measuring 53mm, Penshurst 49mm, Dartmoor 48mm, Cobden 47mm and Coleraine and Warrnambool 46mm.

TOP GUNS

Centres that have already received more than their annual average rain during 2022

Nowra, NSW — 1491mm (171 per cent)

Tibooburra, NSW — 280mm (154 per cent)

Broome, WA — 906mm (145 per cent)

Moss Vale, NSW — 945mm (139 per cent)

Broken Hill, NSW — 317mm (128 per cent)

Toowoomba, QLD — 871mm (124 per cent)

Lake Cargelligo, NSW — 489mm (117 per cent)

Grafton, NSW — 1154mm (117 per cent)

Casino, NSW — 1197mm (116 per cent)

Dorrigo, NSW — 2038mm (109 per cent)

Bega, NSW — 701mm (109 per cent)

Narrandera, NSW — 463mm (108 per cent)

Wilcannia, NSW — 278mm (106 per cent)

Goulburn, NSW — 567mm (104 per cent)

St George, QLD — 475mm (103 per cent)

Mt Hope, NSW — 395mm (103 per cent)

Taree, NSW — 1125mm (101 per cent)

Carnarvon, WA — 221mm (101 per cent)

Ivanhoe, NSW — 233mm (100 per cent)

SOUTHERN STARS

Victoria’s wettest centres versus the long-term annual average

Mildura — 210mm (73 per cent)

Swan Hill — 203mm (68 per cent)

Gelantipy — 490mm (63 per cent)

Ouyen — 204mm (62 per cent)

Omeo — 396mm (62 per cent)

Bairnsdale — 390mm (61 per cent)

Warracknabeal — 235mm (60 per cent)

Kerang — 223mm (60 per cent)

Shepparton — 240mm (55 per cent)

Bendigo — 278mm (55 per cent)