North-west NSW farmers optimistic as properties come to life after rain

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Farmers in parts of north-west NSW are enjoying near-perfect conditions after recent heavy rainfall. Others in parts of the state's west are preparing to be isolated by flooding as crops are sowed and dam’s fill.

Transcript

00:00It's been an erratic time for Australian farmers, with floods devastating cattle stations

00:09up north and dry conditions baking the landscape down south.

00:14But over in the New South Wales North West, Mother Nature has been a little kinder.

00:19There's a lot more abundance of food within the ground, I've just noticed the birds are

00:24starting to breed up again.

00:25Ian Smith has just seen more than 200 millimetres of rain in a month.

00:31For us it can not rain for 10 months, the amount of body of feed we've got here we're pretty

00:35right, which is a big, big, big relief.

00:38For the past three months conditions around parts of the Western Plains and north-west New

00:44South Wales have been dry, but in the last month above average rainfall is turning mud

00:49into money.

00:50For farmers around these districts that means security, especially for those about to plant

00:57winter crops.

00:58There's a long way to go before winter crops like wheat, barley and chickpeas make it to

01:04the silos.

01:05But the optimism among farmers around Canamble and Walgett is infectious.

01:09I'm sure this year there'll be a lot of money put back through towns and communities and

01:14stuff with a good season ahead.

01:16Further north, flooding is bringing the land back to life in Lightning Ridge, along with

01:21the dams.

01:22Of that 281 mills, the back dams are now full to the brim and we just haven't seen it since

01:28we've pretty much moved here and it's heartwarming.

01:31And nature isn't the only thing being revived by the rain.

01:35In times where the population is declining in Lightning Ridge and rural areas full stop,

01:41tourism is just booming.

01:44Putting a hop in people's step just in time for Easter.

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