Farm rain reaction The Australian 2007

ex John Stapleton
James Madden
Col Thomson, a citrus grower from Mildura, on the NSW-Victoria border, said the 24mm of rain that fell on the town yesterday had come at just the right time for the community's drought-stricken farmers.

``We just hope it continues. I hope this is the beginning of the break in the drought _ it certainly could be. The end of April is a great time for rain, a great opening for the winter period,'' said Mr Thomson.

``People in the surrounding towns are talking about it, everyone is talking about, it has put a bit of a jump in their step.''

Like so much of regional Australia, Mildura has been parched for several years.
Apart from one day of heavy rain in January this year, yesterday's fall of 24mm had been bettered in Mildura only once since 2003.

But what little recent rain there has been has not always arrived at the right time of year. Crucially, yesterday's rain coincides with the beginning of the planting and birthing seasons for many farmers.

Mick Keogh, executive director of the Australian Farm Institute, said yesterday's rain _ if backed up with solid follow-up falls _ could generate billions of dollars in exports and create much needed income for hard pressed farmers and their communities.

``Rain at this time of the year will be absolutely fantastic, given there is still some time for autumn pasture growth and adequate time to implement winter cropping programs for wheat, feed grains, canola and oil seeds,'' he said.

David Butcher, who runs a grazing property with 6500 sheep in Ivanhoe, in farwest NSW, has seen 26mm fall on his farm in the past 24 hours.

``It's the most effective rain we've had in a long while. It's not the heavy stuff that just runs off. It's drizzled constantly for almost a day _ good, soaking rain,'' he said.

His stock are due to produce thousands of lambs next month. 
``The more nutrients in the ground, the greater the rate of lamb survival,'' he said.
Jan Molloy, who runs a livestock farm just outside Tibooburra in NSW's north, said yesterday's rain  had ``put everyone in a good mood''. 

``When you get so used to seeing the dust storms, and now you see the rain storms, it is a very pleasant change. There are even water birds turning up, we have a lake happening on one corner of our property,'' Ms Molloy said.

``It has relieved a lot of pressure on things, we are even looking at having some fat stock and some sales _ and not forced sales.''

John Stapleton