Good rain bolsters farmers' spirits
This week’s rains gave farmers an added confidence boost on the cusp of the season break.
Northampton farmer Stephen Mitchell received 37mm on Wednesday night and said it gave his soils a much-needed wetting.
He said the rain came as a surprise. “It’s great news,” Mr Mitchell said.
“It wasn’t forecast, but the wind blew in the right direction.”
Mr Mitchell started seeding lupins at his Binnu property this week and said he would start in Northampton shortly.
“We got a lot more summer rain at Binnu, so there’s a lot of moisture in the ground.”
Ogilvie farmer Ben Williams recorded 27mm of rain on his southern block on Wednesday night, which helped him prepare for seeding.
“This rain is a bonus, but we are still waiting for the break,” he said.
“We are going to start deep ripping and wait for weeds to germinate to start seeding.”
Mr Williams received 16mm on his home farm, 20km north-east of Northampton, on Wednesday night.
Geraldton Bureau of Meteorology weather observer Lincoln Mainsbridge said people could expect a change over the next few months.
“This week’s rain came from a cold front and midlevel disturbance from the south,” he said.
“There will be some change as we move into the wetter months of May to August.”
Mr Mainsbridge said most of the rain passed through on Thursday evening and no rain was forecast over the weekend.
Mid West farmers are hoping for an early break this year, after the growing season broke in late May in 2009 and 2010.
CLAIRE TYRRELL
