It truly has been a tale of two seasons in recent months across Australia. Pic: AgriShots
An article by Alex McLaughlin
It truly has been a tale of two seasons in recent months across Australia. Large parts of Queensland have been drenched by heavy rain, with some areas receiving their entire annual rainfall in just a day. Meanwhile, southern regions—stretching from southern New South Wales through Victoria and South Australia—are grappling with one of their driest seasons on record.
To get a handle on how producers are responding, APlus News spoke with Elders NSW Technical Services Manager Adam Little, AWN's Western Australian Livestock Manager Dean Hubbard, as well as Nutrien Tasmania's George Nichols.
Eastern States: Ideal in the north, drying in the south
Recent heavy rainfall across large parts of Queensland and NSW has caused major disruptions, with some areas in Queensland experiencing significant livestock losses. Floodwaters inundated properties and cut off access, particularly in central Queensland and northern NSW, where paddocks were left under several feet of water.
However, while the rainfall brought short-term challenges, it has also laid the groundwork for a strong winter cropping season and improved feed supply across much of the region.
“One place out at Walgett had 30,000 acres under two feet of water,” Mr Little said.
“From Goondiwindi across to Moree, down to Narrabri and Cryon—it’s all had plenty of water.”
That’s good news for winter cropping, with Mr Little calling conditions around Narrabri, Tamworth and the Hunter Valley “ideal”.
“There’s some excellent sowing happening right now,” he said. “We’ve got big winter crops going in where it’s soaked up nicely.”
Further south, however, the story changes. The Central Tablelands are starting to dry, and the Monaro region is under serious pressure.
“South of Goulburn, into Cooma and the top end of the Riverina—there are properties already carting water,” Mr Little said.
“The Riverina’s drying too, though there’s still good water supply and plenty of dry sowing happening.”
Meanwhile further north, “Queensland has really been a tale of two extremes,” Mr Little said. “Some areas have seen so much rain that it's caused livestock losses, while other regions have missed out.”
In parts of central Queensland and near the NSW border, floodwaters are still receding. Meanwhile, scattered areas have remained dry despite widespread storms.
“There are pockets that are still in recovery mode, particularly through central Queensland,” Mr Little said.
“Down into the Darling Downs, things are looking good as conditions start to dry out.”
Southern Australia longing for rain
According to a Bureau of Meteorology statement released earlier in April, rainfall deficiencies increased in extent and severity across southeastern states during March. Some areas recorded their lowest March rainfall on record, particularly across the Eyre Peninsula and Murraylands in South Australia, and the Mallee in northwestern Victoria.
Rainfall was below average for most of Tasmania, parts of southern and western Australia, and in small pockets of the north. Soil moisture deficiency continues across much of southern Australia, and water storage levels across southeastern states were 10 to 50% lower than the same time last year.
South Australia remains extremely dry, and many growers have begun dry sowing crops in the hope of a break.
“I still think there’s enough confidence that the showers will come. It’s just when—that’s the big question mark at the moment,” Mr Little said.
He recalled last year in Western Australia, where after a similar dry start, growers were rewarded with significant rainfall that turned the canola season around.
“They sowed dry, waited, and then got 80 to 85 millimetres. It ended up being one of the best canola years from one of the worst starts,” he said.
The concern in South Australia is timing, with colder conditions looming.
“They’ve got really short windows of growth potential. If you don’t get the timing right with the rain, it severely limits what you can do as a business,” Mr Little said.
Similar to South Australia, for much of Victoria Mr Little said conditions are "extremely dry".
The southeast tip near Gippsland has fared slightly better, with some moisture holding on.
For some producers, Mr Little believes dry sowing is underway, with many hoping rain will arrive in the coming weeks to support emerging crops.
Western Australia: Season underway, sheep numbers low
AWN’s Dean Hubbard said large parts of WA's agricultural region have received good follow-up rain, allowing the season to get well underway.
“Sheep numbers are down—the cupboard is getting bare. Mutton has turned the corner, and I think demand is outstripping supply. Finished lambs still have a way to go, but most abattoirs are working flat out,” Mr Hubbard said.
Mr Hubbard said live export activity is ramping up ahead of the seasonal embargo starting at the end of May. Meanwhile, there is renewed local interest in breeding ewes and feeder stock, with WA's sheep flock nearing record lows.
On the cattle front, prices are improving. “Whether it’s sheep or cattle, the signs are good,” Mr Hubbard said.
“There are areas that missed out on rain—particularly north and east of Perth—but across much of WA the season is looking good."
Mr Hubbard said there are currently parts of the state where "canola is up and the cereal cropping season is well and truly underway,” he said.
Tasmania: Dry times, producers holding on to stock due to handy Christmas rain
Tasmania is experiencing dry conditions similar to Victoria, with isolated rainfall in the north and east. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, March was the driest since 2005, with state-wide rainfall 51% below the 1961–1990 average.
Nutrien Tasmania’s Division Wool Lead and Bridgewater Livestock Manager, George Nichols, said the state missed its traditional autumn break, but good rainfall before Christmas helped bolster fodder reserves.
“It's dry. We haven't had an autumn break in Tassie. We've had a few spots in the northwest, northeast and east coast that got some rain, but we're all holding out,” Mr Nichols said.
“We're seeing reduced yardings now, especially during these two short weeks. But producers are committed to feeding their sheep and cattle, which is good to see.”
Mr Nichols said strong support during the weaner selling season was thanks to summer rain, which ensured solid fodder supplies.
“A lot of people who purchased local weaner cattle are feeding them now and waiting for the break. Once it rains, they’ll be in a good position to grow them out. But it just hasn’t rained yet,” he said.
“We’re not as bad as our friends in Victoria’s Western Districts or South Australia. We’re lucky that good livestock prices have stayed with us.”
