DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
SEPTEMBER 1998
Rainfall across much of the eastern part of the State
in late August early September resulted in moderate to severe flooding in parts
of central and northern Queensland. Whilst the flooding caused severe damage
to many crops in these areas, the long-term benefits will boost primary production
during the forthcoming summer months. Most eastern areas of the State, with
the exception of the coastal area around Bundaberg, have adequate soil moisture
and surface water supplies to enable the planting and irrigation of summer crops.
Most areas of the State, with the exception of the western
section of Cape York and large parts of the Gulf, have experienced useful rainfall
during the last two months. Some areas have received their largest rainfall
totals for twenty years while others have only recently received isolated scattered
falls. Generally much of the State is experiencing the best start to spring
for many years.
At the end of September 1988, 15 shires and 3 part shires
remain drought declared along with 223 Individually Droughted Properties (IDPs)
in a further 28 shires. These declarations represent approximately 9% of the
land area of the State or 7,918 out of the 55,545 Department of Primary Industries
registered livestock enterprises.
RAINFALL
North Region: Widespread rainfall was again recorded along
much of the coastal fringe and associated inland areas. Atherton received 48mm,
Babinda 416mm, Innisfail 332mm, Tully 654mm, Cairns 112mm, Townsville 29mm,
Bowen 13mm, Charters Towers 45mm, Herberton 27mm, Malanda 70mm, Croydon 2mm
and Georgetown 3mm.
West Region: Useful rainfall occurred across much of the
Region during the month. Blackall recorded 33mm, Barcaldine 44mm, Charleville
97mm, Quilpie 18mm, Cunnamulla 40mm, Birdsville 18mm, Boulia 39mm, Windorah
36mm, Longreach 20mm, Muttaburra 17mm, Winton 29, Hughenden 52mm, Cloncurry
24mm and Mt Isa 47mm.
Central Region: Widespread heavy rainfall occurred across
much of the Region, with record monthly falls in some centres. Alpha recorded
15m, Blackwater 92mm, Clermont 29mm, Dingo 220mm, Springsure 76mm, Mackay 58mm,
Proserpine 75mm, Rockhampton 112mm, Banana 161mm, Biloela 90mm, Theodore 96mm,
Miriam Vale 179mm and Gladstone 90mm.
South-East Region: Excellent rainfall was recorded across
much of the Region. Totals include Eidsvold 143mm, Gayndah 103mm, Gympie 129mm,
Mundubbera 129mm, Esk 106mm, Kingaroy 92mm, Murgon 120mm, Nanango 127mm, Gatton
68mm and Beaudesert 108mm. On the coastal fringe Bundaberg received 136mm, Nambour
227mm and Maryborough 132mm.
South Region: Widespread rainfall was again received across
much of the Region with the majority of totals in excess of 50mm. Totals include
Dalby 88mm, Bell 133mm, Oakey 97mm, Jondaryan 71mm, Toowoomba 120mm, Inglewood
48mm, Pittsworth 75mm, Clifton 77mm, Warwick 90mm, Stanthorpe 73mm, Roma 56mm,
Goondiwindi 66mm, St George 63mm, and Dirranbandi 45mm.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region: Most areas of the Region have adequate pasture
and water supplies for the immediate future. Some parts of Etheridge Shire have
missed out on productive rainfall and remain quite dry. Excellent rainfall in
the Bowen, Townsville and Charters Towers areas in late August and early September
has generated pasture growth and replenished water supplies. Most lines of stock
are in good to excellent condition although some lines of breeders in the Gulf
and western Cape York areas have slipped in condition as is normal for this
time of the year.
West Region: Conditions vary across much of the Region
with the majority of areas well placed for pasture at this time of the year.
High temperatures have affected remaining winter herbage and pasture in some
areas has been affected as a result. Despite widespread rainfall during the
last two months isolated areas remain dry. The southern portion of Flinders
Shire and country between McKinlay and Boulia have received very little effective
rainfall and consequently pasture and stock condition continues to deteriorate.
Conversely, much of the central and far south-west continues to experience an
excellent season and stock are in good to fat condition.
Central Region: Rainfall recorded in Central Queensland
over the last two months has provided the best start to spring for many years.
The rainfall has boosted pasture growth and consequently stock condition continues
to improve over the vast majority of the Region. Exceptions remain the Lawgi
area and some isolated areas around Rockhampton. Whilst these areas have had
some minor relief rainfall, conditions remain quite dry and further widespread
general rainfall is required to alleviate pasture and water shortages. Generally
the majority of the Region has adequate pasture supplies to carry stock through
the summer months.
South-East Region: Rainfall across much of the Region
during the last two months has generated a good level of pasture growth and
assisted animal production. The Eidsvold area has recently experienced useful
rainfall and pasture has responded accordingly. Stock condition varies from
fair to excellent and is dependent on the quantity and quality of available
pasture. Some producers have begun restocking properties in the Yarraman area
following excellent spring winter and spring rainfall. With the exception of
the area to the north of Monto most areas have adequate pasture reserves for
the remainder of spring.
South Region: The excellent rainfall over much of the
Region during the last few months has ensured continued livestock production.
Most lines of stock have maintained average to above average condition as a
result of the mild winter and abundant pasture supplies. Pasture quality has
improved in most areas during the last few weeks and most areas have adequate
pasture supplies for the forthcoming summer months. Generally much of the Region
has experienced its best start to spring for a number of years.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region: In the Bowen and Gumlu areas, a largely
dry month saw production and quality of most commodities pick up towards the
end of the month. Many lines of vegetables experienced damage due to the widespread
heavy rainfall early in the month. Fruit setting in the Region's Mango crop
has been variable and with further losses due to anthracnose and natural shedding
still occurring, it will be a little while before the size of the crop is known.
The cane industry along the northern coast to Cairns is struggling to resume
normal activities after the heavy rain and strong winds earlier this month.
Along the wet tropical coast, some mill areas again received fairly heavy rain,
continuing the interruptions to farming, harvesting and milling operations.
Central Region: Recent heavy rainfall has caused problems
for many growers that were close to harvesting wheat crops. On top of the previous
rainfall, this has caused significant damage to many crops with about 50% of
crops having some level of grain sprouting in the head. On a more positive note,
soil moisture reserves are excellent at this early stage of the summer growing
season. Many cane crops have responded well since the flooding and losses are
now considered negligible in the light of excellent crop recovery since the
heavy rain. Wet conditions continue to paly havoc with harvesting and have also
promoted uncontrolled grass growth in young plant cane blocks. Potential loss
of recently applied fertiliser from leaching and/or denitrification has been
a concern to growers.
South-East Region: Projected yields for winter crops look
favourable compared to previous years although some crops have been affected
by yellow spot disease. Recent rainfall has improved soil moisture levels in
much of the Region and consequently the outlook for summer crops is bright.
The cane harvest continues with recent rainfall affecting CCS levels and prolonging
the harvest. In the Bundaberg area growers remain concerned about the lack of
inflow into major storages as this has the potential to impact on the amount
of water available for irrigation during the forthcoming season.
South Region: The majority of the winter crop has benefited
from excellent rain during the last two to three months, with yield potential
in some of the western areas estimated to reach 3 tonnes per hectare. Widespread
disease and insect problems have been reported in many cereal crops over the
past month and this could impact on final yields. Diseases include yellow spot
in wheat, grey mould, sclerotinia and phytophthera in chickpeas, leaf rust in
oats and chocolate spot in faba beans. Insect problems have included armyworm
in wheat and heliothis in pulse crops. The winter wheat harvest is shaping up
to be a difficult one with wet weather already having an impact on yield and
quality of grain. On the Granite Belt water storages have been replenished and
indications point to excellent prospects for this years fruit and vegetable
crops.
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: Recent rainfall has topped up the Region's
controlled storages 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. The controlled storages
continue to remain close to capacity and there have been no reports of underground
water shortages.
Central Region: Streamflows have been well above average
in most of the Region with the only exception being the Callide Valley. Water
harvesting has been permitted in the Comet, Dawson, Mackenzie and Fitzroy Rivers
for most of September. The minor storages have all benefited but more runoff
is needed to raise the storage levels of Peter Faust Dam, Callide Dam, Kroombit
Dam and Fairbairn Dam. Groundwater levels have yet to show any improvement except
in some coastal areas and these still have a long way to go. The widespread
rain of the past two months has given considerable hope for a wet summer which
is desperately required to recharge the Region's groundwater aquifers. The last
significant recharge event was in January 1991.
South-East Region: Stock and surface water supplies remain
variable across the Region but are better in many areas than they have been
during the last three years. Surface water is a major problem in the area north
of Monto and is also variable in some parts of Beaudesert Shire. The Fred Haigh,
Cania and Waruma Dams are still at critical levels with very little inflow recorded
in the last two months. Similarly the major storages in the Lockyer Valley have
not received any inflow with growers concerned about their ability to supply
water for irrigation.
South Region: The recent rainfall produced moderate flooding
in the Dumaresq, Macintyre, Weir and Moonie Rivers. The Warwick and Granite
Belt areas are experiencing moderate stream flow conditions in many local streams.
Groundwater levels in most aquifer systems have risen gradually due to rainfall
and decreased irrigation demand although levels in the Upper Condamine systems
remain low in some areas. Bore levels in most basalt aquifers areas across the
Eastern Downs have recorded small recoveries.
OUTLOOK
The average SOI for September was +12.1 while the average
SOI during the last 30 days (ending 6 October) was strongly positive at +11.5.
Use of the Australian Rainman package indicates that the probabilities of obtaining
median rainfall during the October - December period are around 50% in southern
border districts to 80-90% in central and northern districts of the State.
Some USA agencies are predicting the development of a
La Nina (above average rainfall) pattern this year. Colder-than-normal sea-surface
temperatures are now spreading throughout the entire the entire eastern equatorial
Pacific Ocean. In addition, seas-surface temperatures are considerably warmer
than normal in waters off northern Australia. The next passage of the 30-50
day
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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