Game Changing Weather Has Graziers Optimistic
When Australian rainfall outlooks are released and talked about each month, it can often be hard to know if promised rain will fall. Well, in April this year the Central West region has seen record breaking rainfalls of well over 200mm on some stations, surprising landowners across Western Queensland.
It was a very welcomed weather event for graziers, who were still needing significant rain to put their land in a promising position for the winter. However, there was some concern that the heavy rain would produce flooding and sodden paddocks, a concern for small ruminant operations, and there would be a loss of stock. Which left many graziers nervous about the predictions. It’s a paradoxical situation that many landowners in the Central West know too well - you are hoping for rain, but just not too much rain.
As predicted, rain has bucketed down in the region in the past week, and graziers are eager to watch their grass, herbages, and succulents continue to grow. Along with increased moisture retention throughout winter which will bring an abundant spring and hopefully consistency with the wet season.
RPL recently caught up with some local graziers to hear how their properties are doing following the April/May rain.
Boyd Webb who resides on ‘Weewondilla’, 100km north of Longreach told RPL, “this is the best our land has been looking for ten years”. Webb said that they have experienced steady gentle rain which has been beneficial to putting a lot of moisture into the soil.
Webb said that “this kind of rain will be valuable to both the graziers who have had rain in April and those who haven’t. It’s been great having some steadier rain, rather than typical heavy summer storms that can often wash down into creeks and take the topsoils with it. Any rain is good rain, and it’s been a remarkable event for this time of year, which has hopefully put many graziers in a promising position for the coming months.”
Grazier James Pearson from Bull Ck P/L ‘Boorara and Castleroi’, Blackall, agreed with Mr Webb by telling RPL, “the recent rain will set the year up nicely for graziers who can now plan ahead well into the year, knowing they won’t run out of feed, and stock are going to head into winter in good condition”. Pearson said that the benefits of this kind of rain are tremendous for cattle graziers who want their cows getting in calf again, those who want to turnover stock, or fatten weaners on the abundance of feed that will follow this rain event. He commented that “the doors are now open for graziers who want to potentially buy in more stock and can do so confidently”.
When asked if the pressure is now off when it comes to ‘waiting for rain’, Pearson said “it certainly helps to have this kind of rain leading into the dryer months, because you just never know when the rain will fall next”.
RPL’s own, Wal and Sal Cooper, on their own property “Tanamera” 50km due west of Longreach, have had almost 11 inches in May thus far, and they are excited to see their land flourish in the coming months.
The Bureau of Meteorology have predicted the Longreach region to experience an unusually wet June to August winter period, with a 70% chance of 90mm or more, compared to the median rainfall of 27mm for the respective period. Graziers are optimistic about the outlook for the end of autumn and the start of the dry season.
When summer storms hit later in the year, most properties will have a fuller moisture profile and will put landowners in a strong selling position where feed is guaranteed, and water is abundant.
RPL would like to express that we hope that all stock in the region are okay after the recent rain event, as some stock losses were experienced.
If you would like more information on predicted rainfall head to BOM - http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/summary