General News
7 December, 2023
Rains top average but hits crops
ABOVE-AVERAGE rain last week has put Loddon farmers up to a fortnight behind with their harvest. Woosang farmer Mal Burge said he had measured 85mm in the final weeks of November and only started harvesting canola this week. “One paddock was hit...
ABOVE-AVERAGE rain last week has put Loddon farmers up to a fortnight behind with their harvest.
Woosang farmer Mal Burge said he had measured 85mm in the final weeks of November and only started harvesting canola this week.
“One paddock was hit pretty hard by hail in the storm a week ago,” he said.
“That storm and the rain has put us one or two weeks behind and it will now definitely be after Christmas when we finish harvest, even into early January.”
However, he remains confident the quality will still be good for wheat and barley.
“The best thing for us is to have some good weather for a few days and just keep going,” Mr Burge said.
Last month rains tipped the gauges above monthly average in all communities across the region except Dunolly that recorded 33.8mm for the month compared with the average of 38.2mm.
Inglewood’s rainfall for the month was 80.9mm with 78mm recorded in just four days, more than double the historic average for November of 35.5mm.
Wedderburn topped the rainfall figures with 94.4mm including a dump in town on November 24 of 45mm.
Charlton receiced 41.44mm, up 5mm on the average, while at Canary Island the Bureau of Meteorology records show 52mm fell for the month.
Mincha recorded 51.6mm and Prairie 60.4mm.
Storms and winds in the past week across the Loddon have triggered a spike in emergency services being called to clear fallen trees from roads.
The State Emergency Service has urged residents to prepare around their homes to reduce storm damage risks during summer months.