The rain was considered a vital follow-up from earlier falls this month and was helping to make up for a dry April. Goorambat farmer Greg Gall said 22mm had fallen at his property and he was hoping for more throughout the day on Monday. “This is shaping up to be probably the best autumn we have had for a few years, even though it was a dry April,” he said. “We still have a long way to go until the end of the year but
it is a great start.” Bureau of Meteorology figures show the highest rainfall totals in Victorian farming districts for the seven days to 9am Monday were 47mm at Flowerdale, 43mm at Redesdale, 41mm at Mount William, 40mm at Walpeup, 37mm at Ultima, 34mm at Kyneton, 33mm at Waterford Park, 32mm at Werrimull, 29mm at Warracknabeal Airport, and 28mm at Jeparit, Graytown and Nullawarre. Birchip cropping farmer John Ferrier said 25mm of “great rain” had fallen at his place. Gorst Rural director and Lake Bolac farmer
Cam Conboy said 17mm had fallen in his district, while Elders Albury agronomist Chris Toohey reported falls between 4mm and 6mm in his area. Mooroopna fodder producer Micheal Gaffy said 16mm of “magnificent” rain had arrived at his place at the weekend after April’s extremely dry autumn conditions. “I’ve got oaten crops that have not germinated under or near trees, and I’m hoping this rain will help,” he said. “The ground has just been too dry.” Mr Gaffy said he had finished sowing lucerne, ryegrass
and oats and the latest rain was well timed. Pine Lodge farmer David Cook said 16mm of gentle, steady rain had fallen at his place and “it couldn’t be better”. Raywood farmer Dusty Pascoe said he finished sowing on Saturday when an almost perfectly-timed 14.5mm of rain arrived. “Beautiful stuff and good timing,” he said. Willbriggie NSW grower Glen Andreazza said about 10mm had fallen at his place, although rainfall totals had varied widely across districts, with reports of up to 20mm nearby. Meanwhile, Marrar
NSW farmer Ben Langtry had only received 2mm, though he hoped more would arrive later on Monday. Livestock producers were also hoping for follow-up rain this month to help replenish dams and secure winter feed supplies. The BoM’s eight-day rainfall outlook on Monday shows another 10 to 30mm was possible across much of Victoria and southern NSW later this week, with some western and north east districts forecast to receive higher totals.
autumn rainfall, Victorian farmers, crop germination, agricultural weather, rainfall totals