Spring weather outlook for farmers

Farmers across south-eastern Australia are banking on forecasts of normal spring rainfall as a late winter surge in temperatures hits this week.

Farmers across south-eastern Australia are banking on forecasts of normal spring rainfall as a late winter surge in temperatures hits this week.

Forecasts for the Mallee include a run of days above 24C this week, and two at 26C at Mildura, against a long-term average of 17C for August, while Horsham is predicted to have four 20C-plus days and no rainfall on the outlook.

The Bureau of Meteorology is standing by its earlier predictions for spring rain, which is offering some comfort to grain growers and livestock producers.

For many areas, the season is hanging on a knife’s edge as low autumn and winter rainfall leave soil moisture levels depleted, and crops and pastures needing rain within weeks.

The BOM said its long-range forecast for September to November showed rainfall was “likely to be within the typical seasonal range for much of eastern and southern Australia”.

But that comes with a temperature caveat, with the bureau predicting warmer than average days and nights were “very likely across most of Australia”.

The situation in two key production areas – north-east Victoria and the Western District – remain some of the toughest in living memory, especially for livestock producers.

Gundowring cattle producer Barry Hicks said he was still feeding his herd, when normally this would not be the case at this time of year in the 700mm rainfall country.

Mr Hicks, who runs a herd of Hereford cattle, said the season was not over – yet.

“If we could get a couple of inches (25-50mm) things could turn around, but these little falls occasionally of 5mm here and there are not helping much,” Mr Hicks said.

Mr Hicks said a few days of warmer weather would help lift soil temperatures, and then, if rain came, feed should grow.

“It has been so dry for so long, and too cold for any real grass growth,” he said.

“A lot of blokes sent cattle away on agistment and we decided to keep ours here because we had 1000 bales of hay and silage but we’ve used that now and have had to buy in a couple of loads.”

In the Western District, a series of workshops will kick off later this month for strategies to prepare for spring after autumn and spring rain failed.

The workshops, which will be run by Southern Farming Systems, will cover issues such as stock sales strategies, feed management and running stock in containment areas.