WA gets sudden deluge after driest July, but harvest timing worries remain
Some WA farms received almost 100 millimetres of rain over the weekend after one of the driest Julys on record, but timing before harvest worries farmers.
A weather system swept across Western Australia's south over the weekend, dumping up to 100mm of rain in some areas after months of little precipitation. Kalgoorlie-Boulder recorded four times its normal September rainfall.
For Bremer Bay farmer Peter Buckenara, it was the heaviest fall all year. The downpour damaged some crops, particularly oats that became lodged, though canola and wheat fared better.
Now farmers face a race against time: they need the paddocks to dry out before they can start swathing, probably about a week away. Wet grain can clog machinery and spoil, so Buckenara delayed hay-making and hopes to stay on schedule.
Farmers about 200 kilometres north who missed most of the rain are still hoping for more moisture to bulk up their crops.
- almost 100 millimetres
- Rainfall in south
- four times normal
- Kalgoorlie-Boulder vs normal
- about one week
- Days until swathing
- Bremer Bay
- Buckenara's location
Why it mattersTiming and drying time matter enormously at harvest. Too much rain now can ruin crops or equipment; too little leaves farmers with lean yields.
AustraliaWestern Australian grain and beef farmers face a critical window before harvest. Wet conditions could delay cutting and damage both yield and equipment.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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