Wet May plays rain catch-up
Farmers across the region need more rain to make up lost ground despite a series of cold weather fronts crossing Victoria and heralding the start of winter.
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke, who farms at Murra Warra, said many grain growers had entered a ‘cautious’ stage, where they had received some rain, but moisture levels remained less than
ideal. “Not everyone has had enough rain across the board,” he said.
“There is still a lot of scepticism out there, where there is still an high element of doubt where the season might eventually head.
“It’s the same old tune. There is potential there but we haven’t had the huge downpour at the start of the season that generates confidence.
“The whole state from a farming perspective still needs more of a drenching.
“Until we get that we will be in the same position for most of the winter.
“Our weather patterns are anything but predictable.”
Former VFF Grains Group chairman Ross Johns, who farms at Crymelon west of Warracknabeal, added after tipping 11 millimetres out his gauge on Monday, that farmland sowing was starting from a ‘very’ dry base
“We’ve had a reasonably good May here but it was extremely dry in March and April,” he said.
“The rain has been extremely patchy. In some crops the moisture is not too bad but other areas are dry and looking for rain. It’s way too early to make any predictions.”
Mr Johns described the rain and season like a 100-metre sprint.
“We’re right at the start of the journey. Some are 10 percent down the track, others have just left the starting blocks and some are still on the blocks,” he said.
“Getting rain is always good, but let’s just see what happens in the next six months.”
Rain totals
Rain totals from May 1 to yesterday: Hopetoun 33.8mm, Beulah 58.5; Birchip 49.6, Dimboola 59; Donald 57.3; Warracknabeal 59.9; Goroke 58.2; Great Western 97.6; Longerenong 65.8; Natimuk 48.2; St Arnaud 89.2; Apsley 69.6; Rupanyup 71.6; Edenhope 52.6; Kanagulk 68.6; Horsham 59.8; Balmoral 87.4; Ararat 107.6.