RIVERINA landholders are hoping for some useful rain this week with the forecast tipping more than 40mm for many parts of southern NSW.
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It will add to the lighter falls last week, which has already helped those who are sowing winter crops and are anticipating a better season.
Junee mixed farmer Tony Clough of "Windermere" said some of the recent rain had "missed" his property but he was hoping followup falls this week would help out.
He grows grazing crops, has a winter cropping program and runs sheep and cattle.
WHERE RAIN FELL IN THE PAST MONTH:
- Cowra, 94.4mm
- Tarcutta, 73.8mm
- Holbrook, 74.4mm
- Wagga, 77.4mm
- Woomargama, 127.7mm
- Old Junee, 58mm
- Cootamundra, 85.2mm
- Temora, 97.2mm
- The Rock, 59.6mm
- Urana, 111.2mm
- Hay, 29.2mm
He has already sowed grazing crops and has some more winter planting to go.
His expectancy was conservative but it was hoped another 20mm would fall. And if initial forecasts are to be a guide he could see more than that.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology the Wagga region could receive as much as 60mm this week and to the south at Culcairn up to 80mm was tipped. Coolamon has 40mm to 80mm forecast.
Mr Clough said it certainly wasn't going to be the best season but the rain would boost outlooks and offer some security for crops.
"Talking to some of the people around Narrandera and West Wyalong they are having a cracker of a season," he said. For the region closer to Wagga some of the rain events were described as being too far apart. Yet farmers were happy to take what they could, with the dry times of 2018 still firmly in their memory.
"Looking at my weather sites and cloud maps it (this week) looks promising," Mr Clough said.
"This will set us up for winter crops and will be enough to get them out of the ground." Mr Clough said he was expecting to see the majority of forecast rain over the next four days to arrive on Wednesday.
"We have some lucerne growing and it's looking good," he said.
Despite some concerns about inputs and chemical availability this season Mr Clough said he was fortunate to have gotten in early. And while social isolation due to coronavirus has had a toll on some sectors Mr Clough said farmers, by nature of the occupation, were social distancing.