DRYLAND farmers in the MIA are appealing to Mother Nature’s good side in hoping the heavens will soon open.
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There has been below average rainfall this month, leaving many concerned about their crops.
More rainfall is urgently needed across most areas of the state to assist the state’s primary producers with winter production.
Leeton shire resident Scott McDonald has a farm at Barellan and he was among many hoping the rain would soon come tumbling down.
“We need rain pretty bad out here,” he said.
“A nice half an inch would be good to keep us going.
“The frost has also done some damage to the crops as well.
“We’re holding on, but we do need rain.”
Mr McDonald said his crops could afford to hang in for around the next three to fours if the weather wasn’t to turn wet.
Following that he was unsure what the situation would be.
Mr McDonald has a mixed farming operation, growing canola, wheat, barley and oats, as well as having sheep.
The total rainfall for this month is sitting at just 2.2mm.
Making matters worse was for the same period last year, the shire experienced its wettest June with 111.8mm falling.
“The good news is we had a bit of rain in the summer, so there’s still a bit of moisture under the ground,” Mr McDonald said.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has also expressed its concern at the lack of rain.
Seasonal conditions c-oordinator Ian McGowen said rainfall across the state was generally 60-80 per cent less than normal. “Pasture growth was variable across the state, but generally slowed due to the cooler overnight temperatures and drier conditions,” he said.
A nice half an inch would be good to keep us going.
- Leeton's Scott McDonald
“Growth was above average in areas of the south and south east, but below average across areas of the north west, central west, northern tablelands and much of the far west.”
Rankin Springs farmer David Groat says that his crops are hanging on, but if there is no substantial rain in the next four to six weeks, he would be in “dire straights”.
“My crops are not dead yet, but they just are not growing much,” he said. “We have a number of different soil types, and the heaver soil is definitely struggling, while the sandy soil isn’t good either but doing better.”
The Bureau of Meteorology’s rainfall outlook for June to August indicates drier than normal conditions were likely across most of inland NSW.
Warmer than normal daytime temperatures are likely across the state for the period. Warmer overnight temperatures have also been predicted across the eastern half of NSW and areas of the north.