DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
APRIL 1997
During the month productive rainfall was generally confined
to the coastal fringe, although some good falls were recorded on the Atherton
Tablelands. Most of the interior did not receive any productive rainfall and
the drier parts of the State continue to experience an increasing rainfall deficit.
Areas to the north-east of Dalby, the Kilkivan/Nanango area of the South Burnett
and the Kilcoy/Esk area in the Brisbane Valley are still experiencing below
average rainfall and consequently require rainfall urgently to boost pasture
reserves and provide soil moisture for winter crop plantings.
During the month the Shires of Winton and Jericho and the
part Shires of McKinlay and Richmond had their drought status revoked as at
1 April 1997. Bowen and Dalrymple Shires and the part Shire of Burdekin also
had their drought status revoked as at 18 April 1997. Therefore at the end of
April, 13 Shires and 2 part Shires are declared drought stricken along with
145 individually Drought Declared Properties (IDP+s) in 20 other Shires. This
represents approximately 9.5% of the State or 7,242 out of the 55,545 Department
of Primary Industries registered livestock enterprises.
RAINFALL
North Region: April proved to be a very dry month for most
of the Region except for the wet tropical coast and some parts of the Atherton
Tablelands. During the month Babinda recorded 413mm, Innisfail 362mm and Tully
442mm. Lesser totals were Cairns 77mm, Townsville 8mm, Bowen 11mm, Charters
Towers 3mm, Herberton 93mm, Malanda 140mm, and Mareeba 24mm.
West Region: Very little effective rainfall was recorded
in the Region during the month and consequently some areas which received limited
rainfall during the wet season are beginning to exhibit early signs of a lean
winter in terms of pasture availability. The only rainfall recordings of note
during the month were: Richmond Hills 12mm and Blackall 19mm.
Central Region: Only scattered shower activity occurred
in the Region during the month with the better totals generally confined to
the Capricorn Coast. An area around Marlborough still remains very dry and rainfall
is needed urgently to alleviate the current rainfall deficit. Rainfall totals
during the month include: Clermont 12mm, Emerald 24mm, Springsure 11mm, Mackay
74mm, Calliope 23mm and Rockhampton 15mm.
South East Region: April continued the run of variable
rainfall totals in the Region. Generally the weather was dry, but isolated useful
falls were recorded in some areas. Much of the Burnett and Brisbane Valleys
remain very dry and rainfall is required urgently to alleviate the dry conditions.
Rainfall totals recorded in the Region during the month include: Eidsvold 1mm,
Mundubbera 42mm, Esk 50mm, Kingaroy 47m, Kilkivan 24mm, Gatton 26mm and Beaudesert
15mm. On the coastal fringe Bundaberg received 30mm, Maryborough 28mm and Nambour
132mm.
South Region: Very little effective rainfall was recorded
in the Region during the month and consequently the dry areas around Dalby and
Oakey continue to decline in pasture and water availability. Rainfall totals
recorded during the month include: Dalby 13mm, Toowoomba 2mm, Warwick 10mm and
Stanthorpe 10mm, St George 2mm and Inglewood 7mm.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region: The majority of areas in the Region have
received the best rainfall since 1991 and supplies of pasture and water are
sufficient for the foreseeable future in most cases. Pasture condition is still
good to excellent in most areas and consequently stock are in very good condition
heading into winter. The Bowen, Dalrymple, and Burdekin LDC+s met during the
month and recommended the revocation of those Shires from drought effective
from 18 April 1997, this was later endorsed by the Minister.
West Region: Virtually no useful rainfall fell in the Region
during the month and consequently pasture has hayed off considerably with protein
levels dropping in many areas. This is evident by the fact that stock have in
some areas have slowed in weight gains, but still most lines of stock are in
good to excellent condition. Much of the southern portion of Flinders Shire
received only temporary relief rainfall during the wet season and accordingly
remains drought declared. Many properties in the Channel Country missed out
on effective rainfall during the last few months but have benefited from the
floods generated in the headwaters of the river systems.
Central Region: Widespread rainfall was reported this month
over much of the Region however it was not necessarily effective rainfall everywhere.
Pasture is abundant throughout in most areas but is rapidly starting to hay
off. Isolated areas have relatively low levels of feed for this time of year
and will need rainfall within the next few months to alleviate current conditions.
Overall cattle are in good to excellent condition with some previously droughted
properties returning stock from agistment or purchasing restocking animals.
During he month the Shire of Jericho had it+s drought status revoked. Further
meetings of LDC+s in other Shires are planned for May to assess seasonal conditions.
South East Region: Although pasture availability varies
greatly across the Region, the condition of most stock is generally being maintained.
Low stock numbers and short high quality feed have helped maintain condition
but the onset of frosts will undoubtedly change this in the short term. Some
movement of stock to agistment has occurred from the Burnett and this trend
will continue unless widespread rainfall occurs in the immediate future. Drought
feeding has commenced on some properties in the Brisbane Valley but most producers
are reluctant to commit themselves to a feeding program early in the season
particularly when stock prices are so poor.
South Region: Rainfall during the last few months across
much of the Region has ensured that feed supplies are adequate for stock demands
in most areas except for the eastern Darling Downs. In most areas the rain and
warm weather conditions which prevailed earlier in the year have produced useful
pasture growth and consequently livestock have maintained fair to above average
body condition. There has been a lightening off stock numbers in some areas
of the eastern Downs as well as an increase in drought feeding particularly
in the Rosalie Shire.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region: At Bowen, the first tomatoes are being harvested
after a good season, however the rain was responsible for some delays in harvesting
and also caused some waterlogging of beans and damage to near-harvest rockmelons.
Horticulture on the coast north of Townsville set about the task of recovering
from the damage caused by cyclone Justin in March. Prospects for dryland and
irrigated cropping in the Region continue to be good, with the first of the
northern peanuts being harvested and tobacco planted. The outlook for sugarcane
looks bright with water storage levels and soil moisture levels remaining high
after the widespread rainfall resulting from Cyclone Justin.
Central Region: Following the good rainfall received in
March, many growers have been looking forward to a good winter season. However
most growers are still waiting for planting rains. Some wheat crops were planted
early in March, particularly in western parts of the Dawson Valley, unfortunately,
most of these crops are now starting to show signs of moisture stress and will
require rainfall within the next few weeks to allow them to keep growing. The
next month could see widespread wheat planting throughout the Callide and Dawson
valleys provided adequate planting rain is received.
South East Region: Many peanut crops have now been harvested
in the Kingaroy district but moisture stress late in the season has caused problems
with increased aflatoxins which causes downgrading of nuts. Generally it can
be said that early planted crops have fared relatively well while most late
crops have failed. In the North Burnett rain came too late for many crops and
yields will be very low or crops will be fed off. In the Bundaberg area the
month has been very patchy for vegetable and canegrowers alike and the dry weather
has affected future yield potential. All cropping areas in the Region are now
waiting on adequate rainfall to plant winter crops.
South Region: Reports indicate that most of the Region+s
sorghum crop has now been harvested, with good yields recorded. In the cotton
crop, dryland cotton yields and quality were mixed due to a dry spell in the
January and early February period and were also affected in some areas due to
insect attack. The soil moisture profile in many areas remains adequate for
winter planting but further rainfall will be needed shortly to ensure a large
winter planting. On the Granite Belt, stone fruit, grapes and apples are going
into the winter dormancy period and consequently have low water needs until
spring.
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: The excellent wet season experienced in most
areas of the Region has resulted in most regulated and unregulated water storages
containing adequate supplies for the foreseeable future. Both Burdekin and Tinaroo
Dams are close to capacity and most stock water supplies also appear adequate
for the short term.
West Region: Surface water supplies across the Region appear
adequate for the immediate future. Most stock water dams have received some
inflow as have most of the Regions watercourses. Regulated storages are at capacity
and should prove adequate for the rest of the year.
Central Region: The scattered and light nature of the rainfall
during the month was not conducive to major stream flow although some streams
on the coast benefited from localised coastal showers. Generally, the Region+s
water storages received good inflow during the last few months and are quite
well placed for the short term. Conversely, most groundwater levels have either
not received any recharge or they have risen slightly during the last few months.
Pumping restrictions will remain in force in the Mackay area, although recharge
has occurred in some bores in that area.
South East Region: Stream flows have varied considerably
across the Region depending on rainfall but generally there have been no significant
flows in any streams. Consequently, regulated storage levels remain static or
have fallen due to outflow. Ground water levels in the Region continue to remain
variable and it is not expected that bores will return to normal levels without
prolonged rainfall. On Three Moon Creek, bores from Cania dam to Monto have
continued to drop but south of Mulgildie, bore levels have risen slightly.
South Region: Groundwater supplies have shown some degree
of recovery in the Eastern Downs and Border Rivers. Regulated water supplies
are adequate for the immediate future with most of the Regions storages above
60% capacity except for Boggabilla Weir. Off stream irrigation supplies are
adequate for the short term and should provide a good basis for the winter season.
OUTLOOK
The average SOI for April was -14.4, while the average
SOI for the 30 days ending 30 April was -17.4. The SOI trend during March-April
was phase 3 (ie. rapidly falling). Climate forecasts suggest that the chance
of obtaining +average+ rainfall during the May-July period is now about 30%
for some areas of Queensland and 65% in the south-eastern corner of the State.
Sea surface temperatures (SST) in the central and eastern
equatorial Pacific Ocean continue to warm while they continue to cool in the
Coral Sea and the western Pacific. In addition, the average wind direction in
northern Australia is now westerly. The next passage of the 30-to 50-day oscillation
is due during the third week of May.
Information provided by:
REGIONAL DELIVERY
Enquiries to: Ros Moloney
Primary Industries Building, 80 Ann Street, GPO Box 46, Brisbane Q 4001
Telephone: (07) 3239 3181
Facsimile: (07) 3239 3454
National Agricultural Monitoring System (NAMS)
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The National Agricultural Monitoring System (NAMS) provides current and historical climate, production, pasture and commodity information for agricultural industries at the national, state and regional scales, in user-friendly graphs and maps. NAMS is primarily designed to streamline Exceptional Circumstances drought assistance applications and assessments. NAMS can be accessed at www.nams.gov.au. This web-based tool is funded by the Australian, State and Territory governments and contains modelled analyses provided by Queensland Departments of Natural Resources & Water and Primary Industries & Fisheries. |
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