TUMUT has endured a drier than average winter, and there is some concern on the land going further into spring and preparing for summer.
Tumut agronomist Nathan Ferguson recorded 57mm for August, 76mm for July and 71mm for August. This is for a total of 204mm as compared to the long term average of 253.1mm.
Each month’s total was below the long term average.
“Everyone is a bit nervous at the minute,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We have had a pretty tough winter and we are looking for rain. These warmer temperatures can further advance plant development and we could have a reduced biomass if we don’t get some rain. We need it sooner rather than later.”
He said rainfall was sporadic this winter and was accompanied by above average temperatures.
“June and July weren’t too bad and we had a run of very frosty weather at the start of August,’ he said.
“We have had a tough start to spring. August made things tough and now we’re on a knife’s edge.”
He fears for people on the land for the remainder of the year.
“If we don’t get the spring we need; if we don’t get the rain we need, summer’s going to be tough,” he said.
Greg Mouat of Mouat’s Farm in Batlow said the farm had experienced a drier than normal winter, with rain down on the long-term average.
“After having a cold winter with clear skies and frosty nights, it now seems to have turned around and there’s more wind than normal,” he said.
The Mouat’s Farm apple crop is currently dormant, with harvest time in March-April next year.
“The trees are about to come into blossom, but that’s a few weeks off,” he said.
“I expect it will happen a little bit earlier than normal. If it gets cooler that will delay it again; but if it is warmer that will bring it on a bit earlier.”
The Bureau of Meteorology says the long-range forecast for spring (September to November) states that rainfall is likely to be above average for large parts of eastern Australia, with warmer than average days and nights very likely across most of Australia.
