DOWNPOURS across north-western Victoria this week have been tipped to be the
season-breaking rain Mallee farmers have been looking to the skies for.
Rain
was successfully forecast for the region yesterday and today, with showers
predicted to continue tomorrow.
Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke
predicted that falls of more than 100mm were possible in north-eastern Victoria
and south western NSW over the coming days.
“A low pressure trough will be
joined by a cold front and link up with tropical moisture to form a northwest
cloud band,” Mr Dutschke said.
“It’s the sort of feature that those on the
land look out for at this time of year, [as] it sometimes leads to soaking
rain.”
Some farms in the Mallee haven’t seen a decent rainfall since last
winter, and with some areas on the verge of drought, farmers are hoping the
decent rain will provide vital sub-soil moisture to kick-start recently sown
winter crops.
For Swan Hill grain grower Ben Slater this week’s rain has been
welcomed — this growing season marks his introduction to the heavily
weather-reliant venture of broad-acre farming.
Mr Slater bought his first
parcel of land, a 650 acre block off Lalbert Road just three months ago and has
now finished sowing his winter crops of wheat, barley canola and peas.
He
said he was as happy as any farmer about the apparent break in the
season.
“It feels great, I just hope it keeps raining,” he said.
“This
could make or break me.”
Mr Slater said he had high hopes to continue in the
industry, with a vision of eventually taking over his father’s 3500 acre farming
property.
For more of this story, see Friday’s Guardian (May 31).
