DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
JUNE 1998
Much of the State again experienced useful rainfall totals
during the month. June rainfall in the grain growing areas of central and southern
Queensland will provide a boost to winter crops and virtually guarantee above
average wheat yields in many areas. Good rainfall in the Stanthorpe and Warwick
areas will boost pasture growth and replenish soil moisture levels in an area
that had been previously been quite dry. Similarly rainfall in the Eidsvold
and Monto areas proved beneficial for pastures but did little to alleviate water
shortages. Consequently many graziers in this area continue to cart stock water.
The Bundaberg and Gladstone areas continue to experience surface water shortages
due to lack of substantial runoff in the area's major streams.
Rosalie Shire was officially revoked from drought status
on the 1 June 1998 and this was followed on the 10 June 1998 by that portion
of Wondai Shire to the west of the Stuart and Boyne Rivers. Therefore at the
end of June 1988, 17 shires and 4 part shires remain drought declared along
with 437 Individually Droughted Properties (IDPs) in 38 other shires. These
declarations represent approximately 9% of the land area of the State or 10,
958 out of the 55,545 Department of Primary Industries registered livestock
enterprises.
RAINFALL
North Region: Much of the Region again recorded useful
rainfall although the better totals were generally confined to the north tropical
coast above Ingham. Atherton received 29mm, Babinda 89mm, Innisfail 117mm, Tully
136mm, Cairns 39mm, Townsville 16mm, Bowen 14mm, Charters Towers 14mm, Herberton
28mm, Malanda 45mm, Mareeba 6mm, Georgetown 6mm, Croydon 10mm and Normanton
4mm.
West Region: Scattered rainfall occurred across much of
the Region with good totals recorded in many centres. Blackall recorded 34mm,
Barcaldine 49mm, Charleville 58mm, Quilpie 58mm, Cunnamulla 46mm, Birdsville
6mm, Windorah 38mm, Longreach 47mm, Muttaburra 53mm, Winton 51, Hughenden 21mm,
Cloncurry 35mm and Mt Isa 29mm.
Central Region: Useful rainfall totals were recorded in
many centres of the Region. Alpha recorded 42mm, Blackwater 53mm, Clermont 25mm,
Dingo 35mm, Springsure 32mm, Mackay 69mm, Proserpine 27mm, Rockhampton 39mm,
Banana 30mm, Biloela 28mm, Theodore 24mm, Miriam Vale 22mm and Gladstone 29mm.
South East Region: Much of the Region again received useful
rainfall. Monthly totals include Eidsvold 30mm, Gayndah 28mm, Gympie 32mm, Mundubbera
28mm, Esk 14mm, Kingaroy 33mm, Murgon 27mm, Nanango 26mm, Gatton 12mm and Beaudesert
15mm. On the coastal fringe Bundaberg received 26mm and Maryborough 35mm.
South Region: June proved a good month for rainfall for
many centres in the Region. Totals include Dalby 44mm, Bell 42mm, Oakey 25mm,
Jondaryan 27mm, Toowoomba 33mm, Inglewood 88mm, Pittsworth 50mm, Clifton 38mm,
Warwick 53mm, Stanthorpe 100mm, Roma 31mm, Goondiwindi 70mm, St George 47mm,
and Dirranbandi 19mm.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region: Much of the Region continues to experience
an average to above average season. Standing pasture began haying off producing
a decline in pasture quality. Generally most areas will have adequate pasture
reserves to carry stock through till the end of the year. Stock condition reflects
pasture quality but generally stock are in good to excellent condition. Some
lines of lactating females have started to slip in condition as is normal for
this time of year.
West Region: Beneficial rainfall was received in many
areas of the Region although falls were patchy. Generally pastures remain green
in many districts and consequently most lines of stock are in good to excellent
condition. While the majority of the Region is well placed for feed reserves
for this time of the year, isolated pockets of country remain very dry. The
southern portion of Flinders Shire, an area in the far south western corner
of the State and an area running east from McKinlay, through to Boulia and the
Northern Territory border remains very dry with little to no relief rain recorded
this year.
Central Region: Pasture supplies across most areas of
the Region are reasonably good for this time of the year, thanks to late summer,
early autumn rain. Recently, cold frosty conditions have hayed pasture off in
most areas. Isolated areas remain in Banana, Duaringa and Fitzroy Shires remain
short of feed but most areas will struggle through to spring. Recent rainfall
will promote some growth in buffel pastures and will contribute to soil moisture
reserves allowing native pastures to get away as conditions warm in spring.
Generally stock condition is good for this time of the year but as to be expected
some lines of stock slipped a bit during the month due to cold weather.
South-East Region: Relatively mild conditions and the
late onset of frosts have been very beneficial for the majority of the Region's
pastures. Rainfall during April/May generated good pasture growth in many areas
and most native pastures have now gone to seed. In most areas stock condition
is generally being maintained. In the drier areas to the north of Monto stock
are in fair condition while in the southern part of the Region stock condition
ranges from reasonable to good. Supplementary feeding is occurring north of
Monto but it appears that it is limited to this area. There have been a number
of enquiries from producers in the South Burnett looking to return stock from
agistment
South Region: Rainfall during April/May has resulted in
improved feed quality and quantity over wide areas of the Region and most areas
have adequate feed reserves for the winter months. Rainfall during the cooler
months has also produced winter herbages in most areas and these have assisted
stock in maintaining average to above condition. Drought feeding is still occurring
in some isolated areas of the Region that missed out on rainfall during the
last few months. Generally most properties, with the exception of some Stanthorpe
and Inglewood holdings, should have sufficient pasture reserves to carry stock
through to spring.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region: Rainfall and cooler weather in the Bowen
and Gumlu areas late in the month had some effect on tomato, sweet corn, bean
and capsicum crops but these were minimal. Dry conditions on the Atherton Tablelands
assisted the harvest of maize and peanut crops with the peanut crop down about
18% on last year's crop. The planting of winter crops such as navy beans and
potatoes commenced this month. Rain during the month caused interruptions to
the cane harvest in some of the coastal areas but reduced the demand on irrigation
supplies for other crops.
Central Region: The majority of the Region's wheat crop
is progressing well after a good start to the season although the Callide Valley
has not fared as well for rainfall as other areas. Consequently, many crops
in the southern part of the valley require good rainfall within the next month
if average yields are to be achieved. In other areas recent rainfall means that
most farmers are now guaranteed of harvesting a wheat crop (in the absence of
severe frost). Grainco are gearing up for potential record crop, if conditions
between now and harvest are favourable.
South-East Region: The late season rain replenished soil
moisture levels across much of the Region and as a result many winter crops
of wheat and barley have been planted. Nevertheless, rain is still required,
particularly in southern areas, to ensure the continued growth of winter crops.
Many of the late-planted sorghum crops have been badly affected by ergot making
them difficult to harvest. In the cane growing areas significant late season
growth, due to rain in May, has improved the outlook for the cane crop now being
harvested. In the Bundaberg district late season rain has also provided ideal
conditions for planting of winter crops. In the Lockyer Valley good rain has
enabled the planting of broccoli, beetroot, lettuce and onions. Early indications
are for average yields. In the Gayndah/Mundubbera area the citrus harvest continues
with average yields reported.
South Region: Large areas of winter crop have been planted
throughout the Region due to the excellent subsoil moisture available in most
areas. Wheat has been the major grain crop planted with other areas sown to
barley and chickpeas. Additionally, fodder crops of oats and barley have been
planted for stock production. There has been very little runoff across much
of the Granite Belt in recent months and subsequently surface water supplies
are quite low in some areas. Without good winter rainfall there may be problems
in vegetable and stone fruit growing areas during spring due to lack of suitable
irrigation water.
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: Aquifers in the Bowen area continue to be
of concern recording little or no apparent recharge this year. The Region's
controlled storages remain at or close to capacity with irrigators guaranteed
full allocations for this year. Stock water supplies remain plentiful in most
areas and should be adequate for the remainder of the year.
West Region: Stock and domestic water supplies in most
areas of the Region appear adequate for the short term although shortages could
realistically occur towards the end of Spring in the drier areas. The controlled
storages continue to remain close to capacity and there have been no reports
of underground water shortages.
Central Region: Water supplies across the Region remain
quite variable. Some producers, particularly in the Biloela area, continue to
cart water for stock use. Conversely other areas of Banana Shire have adequate
water supplies following the excellent rainfall which occurred during late summer
and autumn. Reports indicate that bore levels continue to fall in the coastal
areas of Fitzroy and Livingstone Shires and it is not expected that they will
recover without a prolonged wet season. Stream flows across the Region continue
to recede as is normal for this time of the year. Controlled storages received
little or no inflow during the month but current supplies are adequate for the
short term.
South-East Region: In most districts with the exception
of the Monto area the surface water situation is currently far better than at
the similar time in the last three years. Stream flows continued this month
in the Burnett River but tailed off in other streams. In the area west of Gympie
bore water levels have not been replenished by recent rainfall and remain very
low. Similarly water supplies north of Monto remain critical forcing some producers
to cart stock water. It is not expected that many bores will return to normal
levels without prolonged rainfall.
South Region: Stock water supplies are generally adequate
in most areas of the Region although concerns remain in the Crows Nest, Millmerran
and Cambooya areas. The Warwick and Granite Belt areas are experiencing a decline
in stream flow conditions. All streams continue to be subject to restrictions
on pumping and total bans continue on some streams. Groundwater storage levels
in most aquifer systems have stabilised due to the decrease in irrigation demand.
Conversely water levels in alluvial aquifers associated with the main tributary
streams of the lower Condamine River are declining.
OUTLOOK
The average SOI for June was +8.23, while the average
SOI for the 30 days ending 5 July was +7.23. The average SOI over the previous
30 days has continued its upward trend. Use of the Australian Rainman package
indicates that the probabilities of obtaining median rainfall during the July-September
period are around 50% for most of the eastern States, and about 65% for much
of central and coastal southern Queensland. That is median rainfall or better
can be expected in about 2 years in 3 years depending on location.
Some USA agencies are predicting the development of a
La Nina (above average rainfall) pattern this year. Sea surface temperatures
(SST) continue to cool around the International Dateline although 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 fourth week of July.
The April-May SOI phase indicates that there is generally
a low probability of late, damaging frosts this year.
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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