2023-24 Harvest Updates, page-29

In the 24 hours to 0900 AEST Sunday 18 June 2023, some handy rain in Victorian cropping areas.

Walpeup in Victoria's Mallee, which I always consider to be 'marginal', had nine millimetres, making what seems an excellent 39.6mm for June so far.

Hopetoun had 7mm, Charlton 8.4mm and Horsham less at only 4.4mm. Further west, Nhill was lower again, at 1.8mm, but similar to further north's Walpeup, Nhill has benefited from 36.2mm in June so far. I am just a city dweller, but surely this must be about right for graingrowers?

In northeast Victoria, Yarrawonga had 2.6mm but has had 43.6mm in the half and a bit of June 2023 thus far.

In the Riverina grain belt of southern NSW, Wagga Wagga has had 31.2mm in June so far with slight rain continuing overnight and this morning. Even relatively remote Hillston's weather station has recorded 30.2mm for June 2023, which again seems satisfactory. Forbes (which I'd expect to be more rainy than Hillston) has seen 22mm in June to 0900 this morning.

Much further north, however, places like Coonamble NSW are a lot drier, with just 10mm in June 2023 to date. Gunnedah is at 13.2mm, yet more northerly Narrabri is at 23mm. Moree had only had 12.2mm, or slightly under half an inch on the old scale, in June 2023.

As stayer implies, the BOM's measuring gauges are one thing, but as always, rain can fall in one paddock but the next one completely misses out.

My guess is the outlook is very good or better in Victoria and fair to almost good in southern NSW but in northwest and northern NSW, patchy at best with the possibility of a smaller number of hectares planted, and lower yields if crops remain of value.

Contributors on the land like stayer will have a way better hypothesis.