NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) acting district agronomist at Scone, Hayley Taylor, said falls of 20 to 66mm in the Upper Hunter were a welcome addition to good in-crop rain that had fallen through winter.
“The rain during the weekend should ensure the crops have a good finish now because they were drying out,†she said.
“It will depend on whether we get some hot, dry winds in the next couple of weeks, but if not, this rain should see the crops through.â€
B and W Rural senior agronomist at Moree, Rob Long, said falls of 15 to 20mm in the area wouldn’t make a lot of difference to maturing barley crops, but would be useful for chickpea and wheat crops that were in the grain-fill stage.
“And most of the sorghum has been planted, so the rain will help it drive its roots down and get going,†he said.
DPI district agronomist at Forbes, Ken Motley, said the rain across his area had been widespread, with falls between 20 and 25mm.
“It’s been a saviour for some crops, particularly in the south-west of the region. For other crops it’s been a good top-up,†he said.
The band of showers that pushed through the Riverina and South West Slopes brought weekend falls of about 16mm to Griffith, Hillston, Narrandera, Yanco, Gren-
fell, Condobolin and Temora, but failed to register significantly on the far South Coast and in the far south west.