Spring one of the worst in decades for southeast Australia

SOUTHEAST Australia is on track for a spring which some farmers fear could be the worst in half a century.

Merino sheep on Tupra Station near Oxley in the NSW Riverina.

SOUTHEAST Australia is on track for a well below-average spring, which some farmers fear could be the worst in ­almost half a century.

An analysis of Bureau of Meteorology rainfall figures by The Weekly Times shows that almost all centres will struggle to reach their spring average, even with above-average falls this month.

It follows a dry September and October that has forced farmers in some parts of Victoria and the Riverina to supplementary feed livestock, cart water and abandon failed crops.

The Riverina and western Victoria have been the hardest hit, with most districts recording less than a third of the rain they would normally expect in the first two months of spring.

Ivanhoe, in the Riverina, recorded just 8.6mm in September and October — or 17 per cent of its long-term average.

Horsham, in Victoria’s Wimmera grains belt, received 19.8mm or 22 per cent of its average followed by Nhill (26 per cent), Hay and Swan Hill (32 per cent), Balranald (33 per cent), Hamilton and Mildura (34 per cent) and Warrnambool (35 per cent).

Byaduk farmer Alec Moore said the season was “very ordinary” and the most “springless spring” he had experienced.

“This is the worst spring I’ve seen in the 40 years I’ve been here,” Mr Moore said.

“I’ve never had to do what I’m doing now.”

This included reducing livestock to core breeders “as quickly as possible”, adopting an early weaning program and looking at lotfeeding options.

Mr Moore said some local farmers with “magnificent crops” were cutting them for hay.

Spring rain has even been scarce in parts of Victoria’s North East, after one of the best starts in years. Albury received 61 per cent of its average total for September and October and Corryong, 65 per cent.

At the other end of the scale, Sale, in Gippsland, received 112mm or 103 per cent of its September and October average, with Bairnsdale at 104mm or 92 per cent of its total.

Last week, the bureau forecast a hotter and drier-than-average summer.

Ivanhoe is forecast to reach a maximum of 41C on Saturday, with Hay going for 40C and Swan Hill 35C. A top of 36C is expected in Mildura on Friday and Saturday.