Most of central and southern Australia recorded above average rainfall in winter.

MUCH of the country is starting spring in a strong position, with winter delivering above average rainfall for large parts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

In Queensland the far west of the state recorded above average rainfall, with winter traditionally being dry, while in the south three shires were drought declared.

On 1 June the Balonne, Goondiwindi, Southern Downs, and southern part of Maranoa local government areas were drought-declared, following prolonged below-average rainfall.

Qld cattle producer Chris Skelton has country in the Winton, Aramac, Torrens Creek, Tambo, Roma and St George areas and said the season is mixed across his portfolio of properties.

“The season’s been very ordinary, particularly around the St George country,” Mr Skelton said.

“We’ve had 25 per cent of our annual rainfall for the year on the back of a very low year last year, probably half our average rainfall last year, so it’s very dry.

Queensland’s drought declared shires.

“We did have 26mm of rain last week, so that will make a difference in the short term.

“We’ve got mulga on that country and we have put a bit of lick out with it and a bit of green pick in the Buffel has helped.

“We weighed cattle today and they’ve averaged 0.8 of a kilo for the last 100 days so that’s pretty good in a very ordinary season.”

Mr Skelton said his Roma country had had half its average rainfall so was very ordinary, but supplementation was allowing him to hold onto cattle.

“The Tambo country had an average summer, so some of that country on the black soil is getting a bit short,” he said.

“That’s leaving a bit of a hole in our backgrounding operation, the Tambo country getting short of feed.

“We’ve got a big aggregation up at Winton and our cows and calves are in very good condition. We couldn’t be happier with how the season’s gone there.

“We’ve had some rain throughout the winter there, which is very abnormal.

“And then over to our Aramac country, we have had two massive summers in a row so really happy with that.”

Southern Australia’s best spring in years

Large parts of southern Australia are enjoying a strong start to spring following above average rainfall through winter.

Guy Robertson is a stock and station agent in Western Victoria and said the region is enjoying one of its best starts to spring in years.

“The season has been really good. We had a very kind autumn break, one of the better ones we’ve had for a long time,” he said.

“It’s been pretty good all the way through winter and it’s been nearly three years or 35 months since we had run-off into dams around the Hamilton area, but most dams are full.

“There are still some strips that haven’t had run-off yet around Cavendish, Coleraine, Casterton.

“But north and south of Hamilton everyone’s had really good rain and dams are full, the sun is out at the moment so everyone’s growing feed so everything’s pretty good.”

Total rainfall (mm) from 1 June to 31 August.

Mr Robertson covers the southeast of South Australia and said that area was also heading into spring in a good position.

“The further north you go in South Australia it just keeps getting better and better,” he said.

“The Flinders Ranges is unbelievable. We just sent two road trains of cattle to the southern Flinders last week on agistment just because the feed up there is so good and it just keeps giving.”

Mr Robertson explained after two horrendous autumn breaks in Western Victoria, producers were feeling very optimistic heading into spring this year.

“The Wimmera and Mallee are unbelievable, they have had above average soil temps all the way through and above average rainfall.

“From Warrnambool up to Mildura is having exceptional year, a few blokes in the Mallee have said it will be a once in a lifetime crop, they have to get it off first, but everything looks pretty good.”