DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
MAY 1998
Excellent rainfall was recorded across much of central,
south and southeast Queensland during the month. The rainfall combined with
mild conditions and continuing warm days have generated pasture growth in many
areas and ensured that most properties have adequate feed supplies for the winter
months. Although rainfall during early May resulted in flooding in the Fitzroy,
Auburn, Burnett, Boyne, Condamine/Balonne, Bulloo and Paroo Rivers, very little
runoff was generated in the coastal catchments around Bundaberg. Consequently
storage levels continue to decline in Fred Haig and Wuruma Dams causing concern
to irrigators in this area. Water supplies also continue to be a problem in
some areas of central and southern Queensland with graziers forced to cart water
for stock. Graingrowers in most areas of the State have received an excellent
start to winter and expectations are for average to above average harvest later
this year.
At the end of May 1988, 19 shires and 3 part shires remain
drought declared along with 454 Individually Droughted Properties (IDP's) in
36 other shires. These declarations represent approximately 9.5% of the land
area of the State or 10, 975 out of the 55,545 Department of Primary Industries
registered livestock enterprises.
RAINFALL
North Region: Much of the Region again recorded useful
rainfall during the month. Atherton received 73mm, Babinda 479mm, Innisfail
371mm, Tully 472mm, Cairns 87mm, Townsville 89mm, Bowen 165mm, Charters Towers
139mm, Herberton 36mm, Malanda 79mm, Mareeba 13mm, Georgetown 24mm, Croydon
28m and Normanton 7mm.
West Region: Isolated rainfall occurred in many centres
of the Region during the month with the better totals recorded in the central
west. Blackall recorded 73mm, Barcaldine 82mm, Charleville 20mm, Quilpie 4mm,
Cunnamulla 70mm, Birdsville 2mm, Windorah 11mm, Longreach 20mm, Muttaburra 15mm,
Winton 3, Hughenden 3mm, Cloncurry 10mm and Mt Isa 14mm.
Central Region: Some very useful rainfall totals were
recorded across the Region during the month. Alpha recorded 17mm, Blackwater
31mm, Clermont 37mm, Dingo 26mm, Springsure 24mm, Mackay 106mm, Proserpine 127mm,
Rockhampton 24mm, Banana 63mm, Biloela 42mm, Theodore 111mm, Miriam Vale 86mm
and Gladstone 68mm.
SouthEast 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: Good to excellent rainfall was recorded
across most of the Region during the month. Totals include Dalby 113mm, Bell
97mm, Oakey 103mm, Jondaryan 69mm, Toowoomba 89mm, Inglewood 95mm, Pittsworth
74mm, Clifton 49mm, Warwick 28mm, Stanthorpe 31mm, Roma 54mm, Goondiwindi 122mm,
St George 33mm, and Dirranbandi 47mm.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region: Rainfall in many areas of the Region during
the last two months has ensured that pasture growth has continued and feed quality
remains high. Most properties should have adequate feed supplies to carry livestock
through till next summer. Generally the majority of the Region is experiencing
its best season for a number of years. Stock condition is generally being maintained,
due to the availability of good quality pasture, and the majority of livestock
are in good to excellent order.
West Region: Warmer than normal temperatures combined
with useful rainfall have contributed to continued pasture production in many
areas of the Region. Many properties, especially in central and southern areas
have remnant green pasture not usually seen at this time of year. Accordingly
stock continue to maintain and improve in condition. Conversely properties in
the southern potion of Flinders Shire and a few to the south east of Cloncurry
continue to experience dry conditions and stock reflect declining feed quality
and quantity. Generally, apart from the above areas, the majority of properties
should have adequate pasture to carry stock through till the end of the year.
Central Region: Most areas have responded well to rainfall
received during the last two months. Conditions have remained mild and pasture
growth has been excellent in many areas. Overall the Region is fairly well placed
for feed and pasture reserves for the forthcoming winter although some areas
still require rain for surface water and pasture growth. The coastal area around
Rockhampton, the Biloela and Lawgi-Dawes area and the Barmount and Middleton
areas remain particularly dry. Livestock condition varies from fair to good
but winter is only starting and some lines of cattle will slip in condition,
as winter progresses, particularly where feed is short.
SouthEast Region: Generally, pasture quality has improved
markedly throughout the Region. Despite the rain occurring late in the season
the response has been far better than expected. Most green pasture is of high
quality but will burn off quickly after frost. Native pastures have gone to
seed and there will be no further growth until spring. Stock condition is generally
being maintained and this can be attributed to lower stock numbers and the quality
of the short green feed. Supplementary feeding of stock has ceased in all areas
except for some properties north of Monto where there is insufficient pasture
to sustain normal stock numbers. Conversely there should be sufficient pasture
in most other areas to carry stock through to late spring.
South Region: The recent rainfall has boosted pasture
production in most areas of the Region although isolated areas remain dry. Generally
most properties should have adequate pasture supplies to last winter with the
exception of some properties on the eastern Darling Downs. Stock condition varies
between fair and excellent although some lines of breeders are starting to slip
in condition due to declining feed quality. The incidence of drought feeding
has declined in many areas as pasture and fodder crop production has increased
although some properties in the Stanthorpe and Oakey areas continue to supplement
livestock due to lack of pasture.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region: Above average rain in the Bowen and Gumlu
areas interrupted the start of the main harvest period for commodities such
as tomatoes, sweet corn, beans and capsicums, causing reduced quality and some
ruined produce. Harvesting of the maize crop on the Tablelands got under way
this month with some good yields reported. The peanut harvest continued with
crop prospects varying between areas. In the cane growing areas intermittent
wet conditions continue to affect land preparation and planting, with late cut
and late plant cane affected by flooding earlier in the year. Reductions in
yield to existing crops are also anticipated due to the wet weather.
Central Region: During the month only a few light showers
were recorded in the Dawson and Callide Valleys and these proved to be of little
use to graingrowers. Although most parts of the Region have had a good start
to the season, there are still areas in the Callide Valley that are desperately
in need of rain to guarantee a crop. In the Central Highlands most of the sorghum
crop has now been harvested but generally yields have been quite poor, with
many farmers struggling to recoup growing costs. Throughout the Region much
of the available cropping area has been planted to wheat. Prospects for this
crop are quite good, especially south of Emerald where stored soil moisture
levels at planting were much higher. Most crops are now at a crucial stage where
some rain would be very useful to ensure secondary root development.
SouthEast Region: All dryland peanut crops in the Burnett
have now been harvested with varying results. Yields of corn have varied from
poor to excellent but returns have been lower than expected. The late season
rain has markedly replenished soil moisture levels and as a result many areas
in the Burnett have been planted to wheat, oats and barley. On the coast the
recent rainfall has enabled many cane crops to make significant late season
growth after dry conditions in February and March. It is expected that the rainfall
will increase final mill tonnages beyond earlier expectations. In the Bundaberg
and Lockyer Valley districts the recent rainfall has provided ideal conditions
for the planting of winter vegetable crops.
South Region: The sorghum harvest continued in western
parts of the Region during the month with variable yields reported. Recent rainfall
has boosted soil moisture levels and large areas of winter crops have been planted.
The majority of country has been sown to wheat although there have also been
good plantings of barley and chickpeas. The absence of effective rainfall in
the Stanthorpe area is causing concern amongst fruit and vegetable growers as
they continue to utilise irrigation supplies to maintain production. Without
runoff generating rainfall in the near future some farmers may be forced to
limit production during spring due to lack of water supply.
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: 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. Conversely, underground supplies remain variable
with very little recharge reported in the Bowen area. Recent rainfall in this
area has reduced the need to irrigate and this has eased demand on underground
supplies.
West Region: Both stock and domestic water supplies across
the Region appear adequate for the short term. Recent flooding along many of
the Region's watercourses has topped up waterholes and guaranteed supply for
the remainder of the year. The controlled storages continue to remain close
to capacity and there have been no reports of underground water shortages.
Central Region: May rainfall resulted in very little runoff
across much of the Region apart from the Mackay area streams that maintained
base flows. Major surface water storages received virtually zero inflow and
most groundwater storages remain at critically low levels. Underground water
supplies in the Farnborough area at Yeppoon are at there lowest since records
began in 1961. Most of the minor storages in the Region remain full but major
storages continue to decline steadily.
SouthEast Region: Early in the month floodwaters were
reported in the Boyne, Auburn, and Burnett Rivers. Some producers west of Wondai
reported creek flows as being the highest in living memory. Wide Bay Creek had
a significant flow through its full length, the first for many years. The Upper
Brisbane River and its smaller tributaries had their best flows for five years.
Conversely there are still areas that have not had significant flows in their
watercourses. In the area west of Gympie bore water levels are still low and
have not been replenished by recent rainfall. Overall ground water levels in
the Region remain variable. Underground water remains critical in many areas
and it is not expected that many bores will return to normal without prolonged
rainfall.
South Region: Stock water supplies are generally adequate
in most areas of the Region although there are some concerns regarding dwindling
supplies in the Crows Nest, Millmerran, Cambooya and Stanthorpe areas. Similarly
groundwater supplies in most aquifer systems are declining due to irrigation
and this is particularly evident in the basalt aquifers of the eastern downs.
Stream flows have all but ceased in most areas and pumping restrictions continue
on most streams. The lack of significant inflow into Leslie and Coolmunda Dams
this year has resulted in its level falling to 39% capacity and 51% capacity
respectively.
OUTLOOK
The average SOI for May was -0.35, while the average SOI
for the 30 days ending 4 June was +4.40. 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 June-August
period are around 50% over much of Queensland. However, the probabilities are
60-70% in most of the wheat growing areas of southern Queensland. That is median
rainfall or better can be expected in about 2 years in 3 years depending on
location.
It is important to note that sea surface temperatures
(SST) have continued to cool 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 June.
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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