DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
APRIL 1998
April proved a good month for rainfall in many areas of
the State. Excellent rainfall was recorded across much of western, southern
and central Queensland and resulted in flooding in the Bulloo, Paroo and Dawson
Rivers and associated tributaries. The rainfall has produced mixed responses
in grazing areas, with producers, particularly in western areas, who received
less than 25mm reporting very little benefit. In other areas, where totals were
greater, warmer temperatures have allowed pastures to respond and this will
secure feed reserves for the winter period. In many farming areas the rainfall
has ensured adequate soil moisture for winter cropping and has allowed some
irrigators to top up surface water supplies for the forthcoming season.
Generally the rainfall has provided much of the grazing
and farming sectors with their best start to winter for a number of years. Most
areas of the State with the exception of the Hughenden/Aramac area and the Coastal
fringe around Rockhampton and Maryborough are well placed for feed and water
reserves for the winter period.
During the month the Mundubbera and Banana Local Drought
Committee's recommended that Mundubbera Shire and the southern portion of Banana
Shire (south of the Dawson Highway) be revoked from drought effective from 1
April 1998. This means that at he end of April 1988, 19 shires and 3 part shires
remain drought declared along with 501 Individually Droughted Properties (IDP's)
in 37 other shires. These declarations represent approximately 9.5% of the land
area of the State or 10, 988 out of the 55,545 Department of Primary Industries
registered livestock enterprises.
At the time of writing excellent rainfall had occurred
across much of southern and central Queensland during the first few days of
May. Flood warnings are current for the Fitzroy, Burnett, Boyne, Condamine/Balonne,
Bulloo and Paroo Rivers.
RAINFALL
North Region: Rainfall occurred across much of the Region
during the month although the better totals were generally confined to the coastal
fringe above Townsville. During the month Atherton received 51mm, Babinda 368mm,
Innisfail 190mm, Tully 521mm, Cairns 173mm, Townsville 52mm, Bowen 15mm, Charters
Towers 43mm, Herberton 29mm, Malanda 80mm, Mareeba 12mm, Georgetown 15mm, Burketown
9mm, Croydon 30mm and Normanton 11mm.
West Region: Many western centres recorded useful rainfall
during the month with the bigger falls generally confined to southern parts.
Totals recorded during the month included Charleville 40mm, Quilpie 118mm, Cunnamulla
104mm, Birdsville 55mm, Windorah 66mm, Blackall 118mm, Longreach 80mm, Muttaburra
49mm, Winton 50, Hughenden 66mm, Richmond 91mm, Cloncurry 90mm and Mt Isa 39mm.
Central Region: Useful rain occurred across much of the
Region during the month although the bigger totals were generally confined to
inland areas. Totals for the month include Alpha 86mm, Blackwater 174mm, Clermont
93mm, Dingo 164mm, Springsure 93mm, Mackay 142mm, Proserpine 73mm, Rockhampton
62mm, Banana 89mm, Biloela 37mm, Theodore 80mm, Miriam Vale 101mm and Gladstone
38mm.
South East Region: The majority of the Region received
useful rainfall during the month. Monthly totals include Eidsvold 140mm, Gayndah
103mm, Gympie 96mm, Mundubbera 122mm, Esk 146mm, Kingaroy 124mm, Murgon 107mm,
Nanango 109mm, Gatton 56mm and Beaudesert 34mm. On the coastal fringe Bundaberg
received 43mm and Maryborough 87mm.
South Region: Most areas the Region experienced useful
rain during the month with some centres recording in excess of 100mm. Totals
recorded during the month include Dalby 91mm, Bell 114mm, Oakey 66mm, Jondaryan
53mm, Toowoomba 58mm, Inglewood 41mm, Pittsworth 91mm, Clifton 50mm, Warwick
49mm, Stanthorpe 40mm, Roma 101mm, Goondiwindi 54mm, St George 23mm, and Dirranbandi
10mm.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region: Pasture growth has been exceptional across
much of the Region due to the excellent wet season experienced in most areas.
The majority of the areas are experiencing their best season since the late
1980's. The exception to this is the Bowen/Collinsville area where some properties
missed out on a general wet season. Overall stock condition varies from fair
to excellent depending on pasture quality. Generally stock condition should
be maintained for the next few months although pastures flooded earlier in the
year might experience protein reductions content earlier than normal due to
water logging and rapid growth after flood-waters receded.
West Region: Those areas of the Region receiving individual
falls of 25mm or greater have experienced the better levels of pasture response.
In some areas where rainfall totals remained below 25mm, reports indicate that
existing pasture has been detrimentally affected. This will obviously have an
affect on stock condition as the year progresses. With the exception of the
southern portion of Flinders Shire and some properties in the Aramac/Winton
and McKinlay areas much of the Region continues to experience an average to
above average season. Stock condition varies according to pasture quality and
quantity but generally varies from fair to excellent. The condition of lactating
females in some areas is starting to slip as the protein level of pasture declines.
Central Region: Useful rainfall combined with warm temperatures
has generated a good level of pasture response across much of the Region. Areas
that missed out on significant falls during the month will struggle through
the winter months with feed reserves of poor quality and declining quantity.
Stock condition ranges from fair to excellent although some lines of breeders
in the drier areas are starting to slip in condition due to the reduced availability
of pasture. Areas that received good rainfall should not have any problems getting
through winter while much of the coastal fringe faces hard times due the lack
of effective rainfall.
South East Region: Pasture quality and quantity vary markedly
throughout the Region. Generally pasture is of good quality where rain has fallen.
The dry conditions and high temperatures which prevailed during the last few
months resulted in poorer grass growth than expected in some areas although
recent rainfall events have resulted in a flush of short green feed which has
helped maintain stock condition. This pasture is of high quality but will burn
off quickly after frost. Stock numbers moving to saleyards are normal for this
time of year and there is little or no drought feeding occurring in the Region.
South Region: Most centres in the Region have benefited
from rainfall during the last two months and this has ensured continued pasture
growth in most areas. Exceptions remain in the Waggamba and Stanthorpe areas
where very little rainfall has occurred. Stock in most areas are in average
to above average condition although some properties west of Goondiwindi have
missed out on rainfall and stock condition has consequently been affected. In
this area graziers have resorted to feeding and or agistment strategies to combat
low feed reserves.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region: In the Bowen and Gumlu districts the harvest
of tomatoes, rockmelons, capsicums and beans commenced during the month. Warmer
than average temperatures combined with lack of rainfall favoured insect incursions
that have affected quality of some produce. On the Atherton Tablelands potato
planting's and harvest of the peanut crop commenced during the month. Late planted
peanuts have been affected by dry conditions and require rainfall to finish
them off. Wet conditions have affected the planting of sugar cane in the Herbert
district and the yields of existing crops could also be affected if rainfall
continues.
Central Region: Rainfall during the last two months has
sparked large scale sowing's of winter crops across the Region. Many growers
have received enough rainfall to guarantee above average yields while others
have planted into marginal soil moisture and will require follow up rain to
produce a crop. Wheat has been the main crop preference with growers banking
on average to above prices for the product this year. Rainfall this month interrupted
the sorghum harvest and resulted in lodging of crops, particularly in the Central
Highlands. Sunflower crops also benefited from the recent rain and will significantly
improve yields in many areas.
South East Region: Rainfall during the month will provide
ideal planting opportunities for growers looking to plant winter crops. Many
peanut crops have now been harvested in the Kingaroy and Kumbia district although
moisture stress late in the season caused problems with increased aflatoxins
in many crops. In the North Burnett the rain came too late for many crops and
yields will be very low or crops will be fed off. In the Bundaberg area it was
been a patchy month for canegrowers and the lack of substantial inflow into
Fred Haigh Dam continues to be of concern to cane farmers and vegetable growers
alike. The Gatton district has had a fair start to the season. February proved
a dry month but since then weather conditions have been ideal for crops such
as broccoli, beetroot, lettuce and onions.
South Region: Rainfall during the month frustrated some
grower's attempts to finalise their sorghum harvest but for most farmers the
rainfall ensured a terrific start for winter crops. Large areas of winter crop
will be planted due to the availability of sub-soil moisture levels in most
districts. In the Goondiwindi and St George areas the cotton harvest has finished
with average to above average yields realised. Of major concern on the Granite
Belt is the lack of runoff from recent rainfall events. Surface water storages
in the area are in decline and without good runoff during winter this may impact
on the ability of some farmers to irrigate fruit and vegetable crops during
the spring period
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: Surface water supplies remain plentiful
in most areas and should be adequate for the remainder of the year. Conversely
underground supplies remain variable with very little recharge reported in the
Bowen area. The Region's controlled storages remain at or close to capacity
with irrigators guaranteed full allocation for this year.
West Region: Supplies across the Region appear adequate
for the short term. The recent rainfall has increased surface water supplies
in many areas and these should sustain stock through the winter and spring period.
The Bulloo and Paroo Rivers had minor floods during the month that replenished
waterholes and should guarantee supply till the end of the year.
Central Region: Rainfall during the month produced stream
flows in the Dawson, Fitzroy and Mackenzie Rivers topping up the storage levels
of weirs in those areas. Very little inflow was recorded in the Region's major
storages although Fairbairn Dam received an inflow of 9000 Ml. Groundwater shortages
were not eased by rainfall during the month and many areas continue to experience
static or declining bore levels. Many areas continue to experience surface water
shortages particularly in the Biloela and Rockhampton areas.
South East Region: Surface water varies greatly across
the Region. In many areas some producers have been forced to sell stock due
to lack of water. Elsewhere surface water levels vary markedly from worst on
record to very good. Stream flows have varied considerably depending on rainfall.
Ground water levels 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 although south of Mulgildie bore levels
have risen slightly.
South Region: Stock water supplies in most areas have
benefited from recent rainfall and appear adequate for the immediate future
although there are some concerns from eastern areas. Most groundwater supplies
have entered a period of decline due to increased irrigation demand and lack
of significant recharge. Bore levels in the basalt aquifers across the eastern
darling Downs are falling, as are levels in the alluvial aquifers associated
with the main tributary streams of the lower Condamine River.
OUTLOOK
The average SOI for April was -22.5, while the average
SOI for the 30 days ending 6 May was -16.5. The SOI trend during March-April
was phase 1 (ie. negative). Use of the Australian Rainman package indicates
that the probabilities of obtaining median rainfall during the May-July period
are 50% over much of Queensland with the exception of parts of the Darling Downs
and Burnett, where they are 35%. That is, when the SOI trend was similar to
the present one, median rainfall was received in about 1 in 3 years depending
on location.
Sea surface temperatures (SST) have cooled around the
International Dateline. However, although the El Nino pattern has weakened,
waters remain warmer than normal in the far-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
The next passage of the 30-50 day Oscillation is expected in about 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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