The Bureau of Meteorology Wagga office predicts that the district is heading into an El Nino weather pattern, however it is not expected to be a severe event. 

While climate models support warmer days and nights and lower than average rainfall up until October, a spokesperson at the bureau said the El Nino event is weaker than first predicted and new forecasts continue to suggest a better outlook in terms of rainfall. 

“The severity has been reducing all year,” the spokesperson said.

This is good news for district farmers who will be looking skyward for quite a few more rain events before they feel safe their crops will yield well.

District agronomist Phil Bowden said both wheat and canola are looking in good nick at present with last Sunday’s rain coming at just the right time to freshen things up. 

“With the dry August we had, we needed rain and after the weekend things have picked up again,” Mr Bowden said. 

Already most of the canola around the district is flowering with the exception of some of the later planted crops and later-flowering varieties. Wheat is also coming along well. 

Mr Bowden said a mild spell early this season meant many crops had been running ahead of schedule, however recent cold days and nights have slowed this growth down pulling the growth back to where it should be. 

“All is looking good at the moment but it is early days,” Mr Bowden said. 

Given the prediction of above average temperatures and below average rainfall in those crucial weeks leading to harvest, Mr Bowden said his advice has been to limit input costs. 

Fertiliser spreading is ongoing at present and while necessary to ensure good yields, Mr Bowden said many district farmers are cautious how much they are spending on their crop to give themselves the best chance of a good financial result at harvest time. 

“People are still very conservative,” Mr Bowden reported.

“We were looking good at this time last year too,” he added. 

With last year’s devastating late frosts and a dry spell leading to harvest affecting yields and quality across the district, it is understandable no great risks are being taken on the cropping front. 

A big frost anytime after wheat has started to come into head (around mid-september) will be detrimental to crops. 

Our district has been fortunate in many ways this season with ‘beet western yellow virus’ affecting canola crops in South Australia and some parts of Victoria. 

“It has been stunting growth and they won’t yield very well,” Mr Bowden said. 

While there have been some signs of the virus in NSW, it has not taken hold. 

The virus is transmitted through aphids which farmers will be on the look out for anyway as the weather warms. 

Good news on the feed front with pasture looking in great condition across the district, according to Mr Bowden.

For those farmers done with lambing, this means their lambs are on quality feed and they will be looking for lamb prices to hold in the saleyards over the coming months.