DROUGHT SITUATION REPORT
APRIL 1999
During April the Shires of Monto, Eidsvold (15/4/99),
Kilcoy and Esk (1/4/99) were revoked from the Queensland Drought list.
At the end of April 1999, 1 shire and 2 part shires remain
drought declared along with 76 Individually Droughted Properties (IDPs) in 18
other shires. These declarations represent about two percent of the land area
of the State or 1,410 out of the 55,545 Department of Primary Industries registered
livestock enterprises.
REGIONAL SUMMARIES
North Region:
Heavy rainfall continued on the wet tropical coast and
in parts of Cape York. However, reserves of dam water in some areas are less
than required for winter. Because of a lack of sunlight and wet soils, availability
of quality pasture for dairy cattle on the Atherton Tablelands may pose a problem
later in the year.
West Region:
Generally the season across the region has continued to
be positive. Pastures are of high quality and stock are reflecting the conditions.
Isolated areas around Boulia and west of Cunnamulla being of concern. These
areas have failed to receive any beneficial rainfalls to produce adequate pastures.
Central Region:
Rainfall was above average in the north eastern parts
of the region during the month. Stock condition is reasonable and in inland
areas of the region pasture condition remains good. Prospects are l good for
the winter crop, with soil profiles reasonably full. Rain is still needed for
large scale plantings to commence.
South-East Region:
The month of April has been extremely dry with some centres
recording no rainfall. The Bundaberg area has experienced lower than average
rainfall in comparison to areas north and south of the district. Gayndah and
Mundubbera shires have both had a dry month. Generally however the season has
been favourable for most of the region.
South Region:
Extreme low temperatures were a feature of the climate
in Southern Queensland. Rainfall was below average in most areas with 25-50mm
recorded throughout the month. Pastures continue to hay off although most areas
have adequate feed reserves. Excellent subsoil moisture is available in most
winter cropping areas.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES
North Region:
Except for the Malanda district where the quality of pasture
is poor due to excessive rains and limited sunshine, pasture supplies range
from adequate to excellent throughout the region. Whist the normal seasonal
decline in pasture quality has commenced in inland areas, generally stock are
in good to excellent condition and should have no problems with winter, provided
protein supplementation occurs.
West Region:
In the Richmond area some properties are responding to
the patchy yet beneficial rains recorded during the Easter period. The Boulia
area is significantly split on seasonal conditions and only about 1/3 of the
area is in reasonable condition. The area from Longreach to Blackall continues
to enjoy an excellent season and livestock are in good condition. The eastern
areas of Cunnamulla are generally very good however the western area is poorer.
The livestock in this area vary in condition depending on pasture quality. Generally,
pastures are "haying off" and showing the effects of early frosts experienced
in many parts of the region.
Central Region:
Pastures right across the region have hayed off due to
cooler weather and lack of rain. Pasture condition appears poorest in some coastal
areas north and south of Rockhampton. From all reports livestock condition is
generally good right across the region but this is expected to fall away from
now on as pasture quality declines.
South-East Region:
Quality and quantity of pasture in general is very good.
There are some isolated areas that have missed out on good rainfall and consequently
pasture is not as abundant. Coastal areas receiving very high rainfall have
found that pasture is becoming overgrown and rank resulting in a loss of quality.
A lot of grass has now gone to seed. Pastures in the Gayndah and Mundubbera
Shires have dried off markedly and a similar situation has occurred south of
Monto and to the east of Eidsvold. Stock condition across the region ranges
from good to excellent except for the drier areas where cattle are in fair condition.
South Region: The excellent rainfall through the summer
and autumn months has ensured continued livestock production. Grazing animals
have maintained average to above body condition. Most properties have sufficient
feed for the winter. However, the quality of the pasture has deteriorated with
the drop in temperature.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE
North Region:
There has been little respite from heavy rain on the wet
tropical coast. Heavy planting of all commodities continued in the Bowen/Burdekin
district under favourable conditions. There has been significant harvesting
of melons, and very early tomatoes are also being picked. Capsicums are nearing
harvest, with the area higher this season. On the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba
district, cool, wet, and windy conditions have gone against peanut drying and
caused delays in harvesting. Tobacco planting has commenced. Maize is drying
out for harvest, while preparations are under-way to plant the navy bean crop.
The tea-tree harvest has been completed. The heavy rain continued on the wet
tropical coast, causing interruptions to farming practices and planting in the
sugar industry.
Central Region:
Large areas of cultivation have been prepared to plant
winter crops and 25 - 50 mm of rainfall will see most people start planting.
The area of wheat planted will be substantially reduced if planting rain is
not received by the end of May. Late planted mung bean and sorghum crops have
been harvested without rain damage and yields have been quite good in many areas.
South-East Region:
Rainfall for all crops has been excellent. Losses have
occurred along watercourses experiencing flooding in February and March. In
the Bundaberg district, lychee and mango harvesting is finished and preparation
and planting of ground for autumn vegetable crops has now taken place. At Caboolture
harvesting of summer pineapples for the cannery is continuing. In the Gatton
district, sweet corn, sorghum and pumpkins are the current crops. At Gayndah
the outlook for citrus is good with rainfall reducing the need to irrigate.
South Region:
The summer harvest is all but complete withy good yields
in many sorghum, sunflower, cotton and mung bean crops. Relatively high sub-soil
moisture levels in most areas should ensure excellent prospects for the winter
crops and it is expected large areas of wheat will be planted. The summer harvest
of apple, grape and stonefruits are complete. Yield and quality was affected
by the mild wet conditions that prevailed during the growing season.
RAINFALL
North Region:
The wet tropical coast continues to experience extremely
wet conditions Atherton received 73mm, Babinda 1018mm, Innisfail 749mm, Tully
653mm, Cairns 384, Townsville 98mm, Bowen 122mm, Charters Towers 31mm, Herberton
89mm, Malanda 172mm, Croydon53 and Georgetown 74mm. West Region:
Patchy rainfall was recorded across the region during
the Easter period with some centres recording excellent totals. Blackall recorded
114mm, Barcaldine 80mm, Charleville 18mm, Cunnamulla 44mm, Birdsville 2mm, Boulia
15mm, Windorah 11mm, Longreach 127mm, Muttaburra 15mm, Winton 5mm, Hughenden
22mm, Cloncurry 2mm and Mt Isa 1mm. Central Region:
Rainfall was above average in the north eastern parts
of the region but average to below average in most other areas. Alpha recorded
3mm, Blackwater 1mm, Clermont 56mm, Springsure 31mm, Mackay 230mm, Proserpine
320mm, Rockhampton 4mm, Banana 2mm, Biloela 3mm, Theodore 10mm, Miriam Vale
10mm and Gladstone 20mm.
South-East Region: Generally, rainfall during the month
has been far less in the nothern areas of the region. Eidsvold recorded 6mm,
Gayndah 7mm, Gympie 27mm, Mundubbera 12mm, Esk 11mm, Kingaroy 13mm, Proston
22mm, Nanango 17mm, and Beaudesert 85mm. On the coastal fringe Bundaberg received
6mm, Nambour 168mm and Maryborough 39mm.
South Region:
Patchy rainfall was again a feature of this month's weather.
Dalby recorded 0.4mm, Oakey 2mm, Toowoomba 9mm, Inglewood 31mm, Pittsworth 4,
Clifton 11mm, Warwick 43, Stanthorpe 40mm, Roma 16mm, Goondiwindi 16mm and St
George 25mm.
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region:
Persistent heavy rainfall along the coastal fringe continues
high streamflow levels in this area. Burdekin and Tinaroo Dams are at 100 percent
capacity and most stock and domestic supplies appear adequate for the remainder
of the year.
West Region:
Generally stock reserves across the region are abundant,
following the major "runs" recorded in most major rivers and streams earlier
in the year. Some of the drier areas will experience water shortages in stock
dams as winter progresses unless substantial winter rainfall is recorded.
Central Region:
Base streamflows have continued in some parts of the region
but groundwater in most districts has made only modest recovery except in some
of the northern coastal areas where reasonable gains have been recorded. Mackay
in particular has had some good groundwater recharge. Demand for irrigation
water has been low in all areas. Stock and domestic supplies appear adequate
in most districts with the exception of some areas around Rockhampton. In these
areas there has been very little groundwater recharge and some properties face
the prospect of surface water shortages as the year progresses.
South-East Region:
Fred Haigh, Wuruma and Cania Dams are still at low levels
despite recent rainfall. The out of allocation water harvesting period has continued
for longer than expected on the Burnett River which has been to the advantage
of many producers. Underground water is still deficient in some parts of Kilkivan
Shire. All streams and rivers in the Cooloola, Kilkivan and southern coastal
shires had significant runs last month and still carry adequate water.
South Region:
The recent rainfall has ensured that most water sources
in the district were replenished, providing a certain degree of water security
for the immediate future. Streamflow totals were above average throughout the
Condamine-Balonne and Macintyre catchments during April. Storage levels in most
groundwater aquifer systems are stable although the main alluvial aquifer associated
with the Condamine River on the eastern downs remains in a depleted state. Stock
and domestic supplies from groundwater resources remain secure.
OUTLOOK
A La Nina pattern continues in the Pacific Ocean in a
slightly weakened form. The average SOI over the last 30 days (as at 5 May 1999)
was +11.6. The probabilities of exceeding median rainfall during the May to
July period are normal for most of the State, except for coastal districts south
of St Lawrence and parts of central and central west Queensland where they are
60-80%.
Rainfall prospects over the winter cropping areas of central
and southern Queensland are excellent. An update on assessment of the frost
risk should be available next month. Burning stubble before planting this year's
winter crop may be necessary to control yellow spot.
This summer heavy rainfall has tended to occur in some
districts around the passage of the 30-50 day Oscillation. The next one is due
about the second 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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