SEASONAL CONDITIONS AS AT 31 AUGUST 2008
OUTLOOK:
>From the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence:
There was a marginal improvement in the monthly Southern Oscillation
Index (SOI) value from July (plus 2.3) to August (plus 8.0). This places
the SOI in a "Rapidly Rising Phase". Based on this phase and historical
rainfall data there is a 40 to 70 percent chance of getting median
spring rainfall throughout most of Queensland during September to
November. The exception is an area in the south west of the state with a
lower 20 to 50 percent chance of exceeding their median rainfall.
Further analysis indicates that the September to November rainfall is
likely to be close to or above average (middle to upper third) rather
than below normal (lower third). This represents a slight shift in the
odds towards wetter conditions compared with last month's outlook.
For example Longreach has a 70 percent chance of getting above its
September to November median rainfall of 42 mm, and Emerald and Gympie
have a 55 percent chance of getting above their September to November
median rainfall of 111 mm and 196 mm respectively. Roma has a 48 percent
chance of getting above its September to November median rainfall of 124
mm while Charters Towers has a 73 percent chance of getting above its
September to November median rainfall of 63 mm.
The question remains as to whether this upward trend of the SOI will
continue or is just a short-term fluctuation. As stated regularly, to
increase the chance of an overall improvement in seasonal conditions
across eastern Australia especially leading into spring and summer, it
helps if the SOI has moved into consistently positive values for a
couple of months at least.
STATE DROUGHT DECLARATIONS:
As at 31 August 2008, 54.3 percent of the land area of Queensland is
drought declared under State processes. There are also eight
Individually Droughted Properties (IDPs) in a further three council
areas.
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES:
North Region: On the Tablelands Rye grass is being irrigated and strip
grazed at present and the area is generally looking dry. Livestock are
reported to be in good condition with supplementary feeding of hay and
licks taking place. Surface water is readily available. Stock and
pasture are in good condition in the South Johnstone district despite
low rainfall this month. There is plenty of surface water available.
Pasture response in the Normanton Georgetown district is reflected in
the patchy rainfall recorded, with some areas having good bodies of feed
while others remain light. Generally the feed is drying out quickly and
supplementary feeding is occurring. Stock are generally in good
condition with old cows with big weaners back in store condition. No
rainfall was recorded in the Charters Towers district during August but
quality and quantity of pastures have improved slightly from late rain
received in July. All classes of livestock are holding condition for
this time of year with breeders with weaner calves slipping as protein
levels and body condition drops. Most producers have instigated a
supplementary feeding program to assist. Both surface and underground
water supply are adequate.
West Region: Across the North West significant destocking has taken
place. Overall remaining stock are generally holding or losing
condition. Pastures have hayed off. There has been some response to July
rain in the Flinders shire, however frosts on the downs and forest
country have set pasture responses back and depleted the protein value
of dry feed. In Mt Isa shire pasture is of very limited quality and
quantity. From a distance some areas appear to have a quantity of
pasture but on close inspection the buffel grass and other pasture
species such as blue grass have little to no leaf and are mainly stalks.
Isolated showers with falls of only a few millimetres were recorded
across parts of the Central West during August. Some heavy frosts
throughout the month did some major damage to pastures unprotected from
cover but underneath the cover there appears to be a good response from
the herbages. Towards the end of the month warmer temperatures have
allowed grasses to begin to reshoot. Falls of up to 18mm were recorded
at Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Thargomindah and Bedourie. Stocking rates within
the South West still remain low and therefore the majority of stock are
holding condition. Restocking is occurring in the Murweh and Paroo
shires.
Central Region: In the Whitsunday region there were no reports of rain
for the month. There is still a fair body of feed across the district
and subsoil moisture from the rain in July has resulted in new pasture
growth as the weather warmed up in the later part of the month. Stock
are reported to be in good condition. Very cold conditions with frost
were recorded in the Clermont district during August, however warmer
conditions in the last week of the month have resulted in pastures
responding well to the July moisture. Stock are reported to be in
excellent condition. In the Emerald district overall stock condition is
good. Pasture has hayed off as is normal for this time of year but some
areas between Springsure and Rolleston still have minimal pasture. There
was very little rainfall recorded during the month over the Rockhampton
district. Stock condition generally is good, however, cows with large
calves at foot, mainly from coastal country, are in poorer condition.
August has been a heavy month for frosts but pasture condition overall
is quite reasonable. Pasture condition around Calliope and the coast
seems to be holding and many properties still have bulk feed available.
There is still minimal grass around Biloela and to the west of Banana
and stock overall are in reasonable condition. A late cold and frosty
winter has resulted in rapid decline of pasture quality in the Mackay
district. The hinterland has adequate soil moisture reserves and with
the warmer weather late in the month, pastures are generally responding.
On the other hand, coastal soil types are generally moisture deficient,
in spite of considerable rainfall recorded in July, with both pasture
quality and quantity diminished. Hinterland cattle are performing well
with coastal cattle reported to be losing weight. Feeding of molasses
has started in some areas.
South-East Region: With low stock numbers on most properties the
condition of cattle remains good to excellent. Sale cattle numbers
continue at normal levels. There is still a good bulk of pasture and
typically in winter there is some supplementary feeding of stock
occurring. There are no reports of drought feeding. Very cold conditions
and heavy frosts were recorded throughout the region during August.
Rainfall was negligible and conditions have become very dry. Pasture
quality has suffered with the heavy frosts and most green pick has been
burnt off.
South Region: In the Roma Regional Council area there is still a body of
dry feed present but it is generally of low quality. Stock are reported
to be in good condition. Pasture is short but starting to green up in
the Cambooya and Clifton areas and most stock are in fair condition.
Most properties in the southern portion of Banana shire have received
some rainfall this month. There is still good ground coverage for most
of the area although the pasture has minimal nutrients. Some
supplementary feeding of licks is taking place. Stock condition is
holding although stock have been affected by the cold and windy
conditions. Pastures in the Dalby Regional Council area have been
impacted by frosts and are low in quality. Stock are holding condition.
In the Balonne area stock are reported to be in good condition with
winter herbages growing well.
CROPPING AND HORTICULTURE:
North Region: The legume harvesting season is under way on the
Tablelands and conditions have been very good with only a slight rain
delay mid month. The maize harvest is in its final stages and the
potato harvest is also under way. Horticulture production slowed in the
Bowen district this month with the cooler weather being experienced. In
the wet tropics banana production has been good but quality has been
affected due to cooler conditions.
Central Region: The harvest outlook for the Central Highlands has been
revised down following some major frost damage in both wheat and
chickpea crops. Damage has been reported in the low lying paddocks and
in some areas along the Comet River flats. There has been a stagger of
planting dates across the area and the earlier planted crops that were
not affected by frost are generally looking good. Later planted crops
are generally not doing as well. Based on the exceptional rain that
fell during July, winter crops in the Dawson Callide have performed very
well during August. However frost has had a significant impact with a
number of wheat crops being stem and head frosted and chickpeas dropping
flowers. Harvesting of wheat crops sown early in April has commenced in
the Bauhinia Moura and Jambin districts. A small number of sorghum and
corn crops have been planted late in August in paddocks that were sown
to spring crops last year, or where timely winter rain was not received.
South-East Region: In the South Burnett wheat crops are now in the boot
stage and there have been no reports of damage to the earlier planted
crops due to frosting. However, there have been reports of slight
damage to chickpea crops from frosts. There has been an increased
interest in the legume crops such as soybeans and mungbeans and many
farmers are now preparing for the summer crop season by maintenance of
contour banks and controlling weeds in winter fallows. There was no
rainfall recorded at the Maroochy Research Station during August and the
dry period has been helpful for on-farm activities such as strawberry
and macadamia harvesting. The dry weather has also helped maintain good
fruit quality for strawberries.
South Region: Wheat was planted throughout the region after the June
rain. The frosty weather during August slowed production however warm
weather towards the end of the month has boosted growth. Wheat crops in
the Taroom, Miles, Meandarra and Condamine areas are generally
performing well although there were reports of frost damage to crops
around the Dalby district. Frosts have caused damage to chickpea crops
on the Downs.
RAINFALL (figure in brackets indicates average)
North Region: Babinda received 24mm (103) Cairns A/P 2mm (22), Ingham
0.4mm (37), Innisfail 33mm (n/a), Townsville 0.0mm (14), Tully n/a
(n/a), Bowen 0.0mm (n/a), Charters Towers 0.0mm (n/a), Georgetown 0.0mm
(n/a) and Normanton A/P n/a (n/a) and Proserpine A/P 0.0mm (n/a).
West Region: Birdsville n/a (10), Boulia 0.4mm (8), Windorah 13mm (9),
Cloncurry n/a (n/a), Mt Isa 0.0mm (5), Longreach 0.0mm (14), Muttaburra
n/a (13), Winton 0.0mm (6) and Charleville 7mm (22).
Central Region: Alpha recorded n/a (22), Clermont 3mm (21), Springsure
2mm (26), Mackay 0.6mm (29), Yaamba n/a (26), Biloela A/P n/a (n/a), Mt
Larcom 3mm (36), Gladstone 3mm (32), Theodore n/a (31), and Yeppoon n/a
(n/a).
South-East Region: Eidsvold recorded 2mm (34), Gayndah 2mm (36),
Mundubbera 3mm (34), Esk 4mm (35), Kilkivan 6mm (39), Kingaroy 8mm
(n/a), Nanango 7mm (40), Proston 3mm (35), and Beaudesert n/a (n/a). On
the coastal fringe Bundaberg received 0.8mm (38), Maryborough 3mm (45),
Nambour 0.6mm (n/a) and Tewantin 7mm (n/a).
South Region: Clifton 12mm (38), Dalby 26mm (n/a), Goondiwindi 2mm
(n/a), Inglewood 3mm (37), Oakey 14mm (30), Pittsworth 5mm (40),
Stanthorpe 20mm (48), Toowoomba AP 8mm (n/a), Warwick 15mm (n/a), Roma
4mm (n/a), Miles 21mm (n/a), St George A/P 1mm (n/a) and Taroom 14mm
(31).
WATER STORAGE/SUPPLIES
North Region: The region's major water storages of Tinaroo and Burdekin
Dams are at 80 percent and 99 percent respectively.
West Region: In the North West underground and surface water supplies
appear in sufficient quantities. There have been no reports that water
for stock is an issue. Water from bores in the Central West is in good
supply but there have been reports of water shortages around Yaraka.
Water supplies in the South West are good as there is a good supply from
the Great Artesian Basin.
Central Region: There have been no reports of water issues for stock.
Callide Dam is currently at 7 percent capacity and Cania Dam 5 percent.
South-East Region: Water supplies are adequate in most areas but there
are still many major dams and watercourses that need significant rain
for replenishment. Some creeks in the district are continuing to flow
this winter after rain in the previous month.
South Region: Water storages have steadily fallen over recent months
with Chinchilla Weir at 59 percent, EJ Beardmore Dam at 38 percent and
Coolmunda Dam at 68 percent.
Information provided by:
REGIONAL SERVICES
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 Environment & Resource Management and Primary Industries & Fisheries. |
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