Rain has been tumbling down across the shire, with 7.8mm falling already this month.

In July, the shire received a soaking, with 54.8mm of rain recorded for the area.

Yenda Producers senior agronomist Sam McGrath said the wet weather had arrived at a vital time.

“The majority of crops are looking really good,” he said.

“It might be a little too wet now for some, particularly those with rice stubble.

“However, it did come at a really good time.

“Without the rain that we’ve had, a lot of crops would have been struggling.”

So far this year 262.6mm of rain has fallen across Leeton shire.

For the same time period last year, 268.4mm had been recorded.

“We’re sitting pretty on par with last year,” Mr McGrath said.

“I know from the recent rainfall some paddocks have been affected with the amount of water, but those areas still should experience good yields for their crops.

“It’s been a pretty good season so far.”

Many growers in the Leeton shire area will be hoping for solid follow-up rain within the next month or so, with others hopeful more rain will fall in the catchment areas to allow for decent water entitlements and allocations.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries seasonal conditions report for July indicated Leeton was tracking at a good pace thanks to the rainfall that had been experienced.

The report indicated there was a near-equal chance of wetter or drier than normal conditions, and warmer or cooler than normal daytime temperatures across most of NSW between July and September.

It stated the El Nino event appears to be strengthening and was likely to continue through spring and into summer.

This may be associated with a likelihood of reduced rainfall at the end of winter and into spring, as well as high daytime temperatures, lower than normal streamflow and an increased risk of frost across inland NSW.

The report also said most global climate models suggested below average rainfall across areas of NSW from September to November.

Mr McGrath said growers within Leeton shire remained optimistic about their crops.

Given there is such a diversity of different produce being grown in the shire, solid rainfall can be needed at different times for each of the crops.

“There’s good moisture levels now at a decent depth,” Mr McGrath said.

“There are some growers that have been trying to get herbicide onto some of their crops and haven’t been able to. Other than, overall the rainfall has been very welcome.”