RECENT rainfall in the Swan Hill region was a well-timed boost for grain growers beginning to sow their crops.
The rain halted production for up to three days, but it was all smiles by the end of the week as record falls were reported.
Rainfall figures from the Bureau of Meteorology were the highest on record for April in Swan Hill and some surrounding towns, while the Moulamein area experienced a modest amount in comparison.
Last week, Swan Hill received a total of 86mm, while Moulamein Post Office recorded approximately 29mm.
Grain grower Mark Kentish was in the process of sowing crops including wheat, barley and canola on his property near Piangil when the rain offered a nourishing good start to the season.
He received between 50mm and 70mm in three days.
“It was fantastic, the best start in recent memory,” Mr Kentish said.
“We had already had a reasonable amount earlier on but this has put us in a better position than we’ve been in for a
long time. Basically it’s money in the bank, is the best way to describe it.”
The rain will mean more weeds for growers, but overall it was a welcome interruption to production.
Mr Kentish said a combination of good grain prices and moist soil might mean a better season than in recent years.
“Last year’s season wasn’t too bad but it certainly wasn’t anything special,” he said.
“We hope to well and truly beat last year’s yield.”
While water was lying in puddles on properties south of Swan Hill as late as yesterday, properties like that owned by Mr Kentish and those in the floodplain area near Moulamein were not hindered by excess water.
Wakool Shire rice grower Jeremy Morton said April was the perfect time to get rain.
Mr Morton was part-way through harvest when about 40mm boosted water supply on his and surrounding properties.
“[The rain] gives everyone a bit of confidence, with a bit of moisture in the soil,” he said.
“It halted harvest, but we’ll get things going again shortly. Ideally we’d like all our rainfall between March and October, but even so rain on a rice crop [in summer] is of some benefit because you use less water.”
The rain is a positive start to a season that may be marred late this year by the return of the El Nino weather pattern.
Mr Kentish said they were aware of the potential change — the first El Nino pattern in three years — which was the only “dark spot” on the horizon.
Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Kevin Smith said it was highly likely the El Nino pattern would return.
“The chances are much higher now, because of the warming in the Pacific Ocean,” Mr Smith said.
Extreme weather, higher temperatures and low rainfall are all characteristics of El Nino in Australia.
