As winter rain batters Busselton, some WA farms remain parched and 'desperate'

ABC NEWS (Australia)

In WA,  a cold front arriving this week and another on Sunday are expected to deliver some light falls to agricultural areas, but the Bureau of Meteorology says it may not be enough for farmers.

Transcript

00:00The first month of winter has come and gone, and this Tentadon farmer couldn't be happier

00:08with how it's delivered.

00:09We've had a great start to our season so far, it's still got a way to go, but very

00:15grateful for what we've had so far.

00:17Early rains and good soil moisture has meant this year is already tracking better than

00:21the last.

00:22Canola's particularly good, growth rates have been pretty phenomenal.

00:26But it's a different story for Cundidon farmer Holly Godfrey.

00:29I think for the year to date we've had around 50 mil, so yeah we're really needing a bit

00:36of rain.

00:37The crops are probably a little bit smaller than we'd hoped for at this stage.

00:45Across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, some places have only received about half their

00:49normal June rainfall.

00:50If you don't get rain, like soon, like essentially next week or the week after, we'll run out

00:57of time for the crops to finish in the spring when the heat comes on.

01:02So yeah, I'd say it's becoming quite desperate.

01:05While farmers are holding out for a wetter July, the Bureau of Meteorology's outlook suggests

01:09they may have to wait a little longer.

01:11It's going to look a little bit drier and a little bit warmer and also cooler for the

01:18overnight temperatures, but hopefully when we get to August things will turn around.

01:23Despite the less than ideal forecast, Ms Godfrey remains hopeful.

01:26It is disappointing, but we will make the most of it and stay optimistic.

01:33Do not worry.

01:34I'll have to wait a little bit later.

01:35We will begin a little bit longer.

01:36Let's see.

01:36It will be important.

01:38If you've got a new forecast from the Great Southern, please we will get it.

01:39I'm going to be careful, but the green forecast will be careful.

01:40I'm going to be careful.

01:41Let's see if you are on the left side of the NES.

01:42Here is the forecast.

01:43We have to go to the airport, now.

01:46Let's go to the right side of the standard infrastructure.

01:48Here is the forecast from the game.

01:50The forecast of the night is the forecast.

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