Victorian, South Australian and southern NSW farmers welcome much-needed rain

Rain has boosted farmers’ spirits and will help to germinate crops but the challenge is far from over. We break down the best totals.

Some of the best rainfall seen for months has drenched southeastern Australia but farmers warn theirchallenges are far from over.

And while falls of up to 50mm have been measured in western Victoria, other areas weren’t so lucky.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there have been some big seven-day totals including Ben Nevis with 61mm, Warrnambool, 59mm, Casterton, 54mm, Biggara, 49mm, Apsley, 47mm, Stawell, 28mm, Kyneton, 35mm, 34mm and Nhill, 25mm.

Across the border in NSW, Albury has received 29mm, Cobar, 27mm, Wellington, 22mm, Morundah, 18mm, and Deniliquin, 17mm.

While the rain has been welcomed, livestock producers say it won’t stop them needing to feed stock until a bulk of feed grows.

South Australian cattle producer Lachy Day from Bordertown measured 25mm over the weekend, which followed on from 20mm in late May, and said prospects were promising.

“The rain has come two weeks earlier than last year, and our stocking rate is 25 per cent lower than last year, so we should be well placed now,” Mr Day said.

“You can already see it starting to green up.”

Lachy Day from Bordertown, SA, said his country was starting to green up after two rains in 10 days.

Mr Day said he had enough hay to last until mid July, and if there was at least some rain this month, they should have enough feed for their cattle by then.

“We have had a lot of cattle away at Nyngan (NSW) which has helped, but it’s been pretty ordinary, but we will have feed and it’s such a relief,” he said.

“It’s cool here, and we haven’t had a frost, and if we can avoid frosts for a week or so, it will help too, but we are still feeding.”

At Rutherglen, Andrew Russell said 25mm of rain in the last few days was a great boost from the 15mm that fell about a week or 10 days ago.

“Most of it seems to have gone into the (soil) profile, and it was lovely rain that was slow and steady,” he said.

Andrew Russell from Lilliput with his canola crop that has received another rain over the weekend. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“We are feeling grateful and humble, and I’m so glad this rain has been widespread, and places like the Western Districts have received some too.”

Mr Russell said frosts were now a concern, and although there had been late-season rain, growth wasn’t expected to be rapid.

John Ferrier of Birchip has welcomed 10mm to 15mm of weekend rainfall and said it would hopefully help to germinate crops.

“It is extremely welcome, and we are looking for follow-up rain, but we are also mindful of frosts coming,” he said.

Mr Ferrier said cold weather was forecast this week with frosts, and his crops had not yet fully germinated.

“We have crops that have come up on the lighter soil types, but those on the heavier soil types have been struggling,” he said.

Across the border southern NSW farmer Rob Gollasch said 12mm of rain had fallen at his place since Friday, which wasn’t a lot but was helpful.

“It’s drizzling here at the moment, and I’m hoping we get some more today,” he said.

Mr Gollasch said there were still concerns with some of the earlier sown crops showing patchy germination.

Rob Gollasch at Wallacetown in southern NSW is hoping for more rain. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

“We also have a few frosts coming through, especially next weekend,” he said.

But in Gippsland, there’s not been anywhere near as much, with seven day totals including Yarram with 6mm, Sale 2.2mm and Bairnsdale airport less than 1mm.

Woodside cattle producer Ash Walpole said he’d received 13mm over the weekend, and while he’d measured 17mm a week ago, it had not created a lot of feed nor germinated crops.

“Normally we would be putting cattle on grazing crops and there’s really no chance of that happening,” Mr Walpole said.

“I can’t remember a worse autumn – we are feeding 150 rolls of hay at the moment to our cattle.”

Mr Walpole said it was the poor spring last year that had made this autumn tough.

“We normally have dry feed until April and this year, it had cut out in February and we have been feeding our cattle since then,” he said.

“If it rains through winter and spring, we will be back in business but the ground is as dry as a chip now and the rain we got a week ago is gone really because it was so windy after it fell.”