Confidence boost after rain break

Heavy autumn rain has set the platform for another potentially productive Wimmera-mallee grain-growing season and generated community confidence across the region.

That is the assessment of Member for Mallee Andrew Broad as farmers evaluate conditions and continue to prepare their paddocks for sowing.

Mr Broad said widespread rain across the grain belt last week had been ‘the perfect start’.

“It’s been beautiful, just what we needed to really open the season up,” he said.

“They always say at least an inch of rain before Anzac Day provides a dream start, and that’s what many farming communities have had.”

Drenching rain fell across much of western Victoria last week with many Wimmera and Mallee centre residents tipping about or significantly more than 25.4 centimetres, or an inch, from their gauges. Some figures were up around 38 to 50mm and beyond.

Some southern Wimmera areas that missed the heavy falls of last week had better luck with follow-up rain early this week.

Mr Broad, a Mallee farmer, said the rain had provided the perfect start to the broad-acre grain-growing season and the regional spin-offs in confidence were significant.

“It is huge for confidence across the region. Although many dry-sow, to sow into moisture is what farmers generally want to do. Now it is all systems go,” he said.

“Rural people really hurt when the environment is hurting, but what we’ve seen with the rain has put a spring into everyone’s step.

“What we need now is little through winter and damp spring.”

The weather bureau has forecast cold and unstable weather to follow the low-pressure trough that produced this week’s rain.

Rain figures

bit more rain

24 hours to 9am, Tuesday: Eversley 13mm, Ararat 30, Stawell 19, Mount William 27, Longerenong 8.8, Kanagulk 18, Horsham 12, Rich Avon 11, Dimboola 16, Kaniva 4.8, Edenhope 27, Hopetoun 13, Nhill 9.6, Warracknabeal 13, Walpeup 13. 24 hours to 9am, Friday: Eversley 4, Ararat 14, Stawell 20, Mount William 40, Rupanyup 29, Longerenong 52, Kanagulk 29, Horsham 33, Natimuk 41, Rich Avon 16, Dimboola 24, Edenhope 33, Hopetoun 34, Nhill 23, Warracknabeal 29.2, Walpeup 57.