Last weekend's widespread rainfall in inland NSW has been welcome, with Cootamundra receiving 16.5 mm in the first four days of November, enough to rescue crops that were close to bailing.
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Particularly to the east of Cootamundra, where Wallendbeen recorded 25 mm, the rain will benefit growers whose crops still had some green and they should get a reasonable financial return with grain prices holding.
Most of the canola around Stockinbingal has already been cut for hay, but lucerne pastures will benefit and some of the wheat crops will also benefit.
Unfortunately the same can't be said of areas to the north and west of Temora.
Agronomists say that in districts where where there's been no rain for many months, the rain could almost be unwanted as it will promote weed growth and any lucerne growth will be sluggish without follow-up.
Forbes received only 9.2 mm over the weekend, and nearby Trundle - population 700 - is still deep in the grip of one of the worst droughts it's ever experienced.
Cootamundra is responding generously thanks to the efforts of a small group who formed Cootamundra Drought Relief 18 months ago.
Based in the home of Gloria Schultz, the group has been acting as a central collection point for groceries and essential household items donated by people from Cootamundra, Harden and Temora.
Loads of jumbo bags of non-perishable goods have been picked up regularly by trucks and utes invited to come to Coota from the drought-affected Forbes/Condobolin region.
The latest despatch left in mid-October, with 120 bags sent on a hired truck.
This brings the total number of bags distributed from Coota since July last year to 2,213 - a lot of help for desperate farmers and families.
In addition to the bags, the staff of Coota Woolworths supermarket paid for and provided a pallet load of 10-litre bottled water which also went on the truck.
Donations have included tinned, bottled and packaged non-perishable foods, and household items such as soaps, toothpastes, shampoo, household cleaning products and toilet paper which are welcomed by families struggling or unable to pay their bills.
A pallet-load of 10-litre water bottles was paid for and provided by staff of Cootamundra Woolworths.
Gloria has been helped by Anne Gammon, Helen Morgan, Cathy O'Brien and Kay Johnson.
If you'd like to donate, please deliver any goods to Gloria at 62 Sutton Street.
