Weather eye on the skies

WHILE farmers have welcomed recent rainfall across the state, many are still anxious about the dry conditions that have lingered for more than a year.

Rainfall has varied across the state, between May 21 and 27, large pockets of Tasmania experienced a wet patch.

 Ellerslie Road in Hobart recorded 43.6mm of rain during that period.

But in the state’s far North West, Robbins Island Wagyu beef farm owner John Hammond reckons he saw about 50mm of rain.

“We’re very grateful for it, even though it was really late,” Mr Hammond said.

“Funny seasons” is how he described the weather over the last couple of years.

“We were just lucky to get a bit of rain at the right time both years to be able to make a decent amount of hay, particularly the year before last.”

Mr Hammond said his farm had done “remarkably well”. despite the dry conditions.

“There seems to be some big seasonal swings in the last 50 years of farming that are irregular and a bit more unpredictable.

“I don’t know where it’s going to be next year.”

Further east at Merseylea, dairy farmer Paul Lambert said the recent rain was much needed after two arid seasons.

“Water is one of those things that we take for granted in Tassie,” Mr Lambert said.

“It’s quite unusual when it doesn’t rain and then, when we get too much rain, it’s not good.

“But at least we’re not getting floods like they are up in northern New South Wales.

“I’d rather it be dry than flooding, that’s for sure, so I feel for those guys.”

Down south at Franklin, Sparrow Foot Farm co-owner David Simmons said they had experienced heavy falls.

“I think on Saturday we had about 40mm, which is quite a lot here,” he said.

“We didn’t have much damage in our vegie gardens, though,” Mr Simmons said.“But there was a lot of rain in a short period of time.

“We have a very heavy compost and mulch system here, which means we don’t have too much runoff or erosion.”

Mr Simmons said he was pleased to see his and the nearby dams fill up.

“I still think the soil could do with a bit of water; it’s been a bit dry here.

“When it rains, it gets a bit soggy. But it’s not too bad, and you kind of appreciate the rain when it comes.”

Although it may not be as much as the recent wet weather, more rain is forecast for the upcoming week across the state.

Up to 7mm of rain is expected in most parts of the state on Monday, with some areas, such as Smithton, anticipated to have falls as high as 9mm.

Parts of the North West could experience 5mm of rain.

 Looking to the longer term future, the winter months are forecast to have “an increased chance of above average winter rainfall for much of inland and parts of southern Australia.”