THURSDAY night’s storm brought an end to an exceptionally dry autumn, providing reassurance to farmers, but as temperatures drop some suggest it’s come too late to grow much feed.
The shire saw a heavy downpour last week, with Myrtleford receiving 42.4mm according to the TACO weather monitor, but some farmers recorded far greater totals.
Speaking on Friday, Buffalo River cattle farmer and orchardist Frank Primerano said he received 43.5mm of rain that night, which has “taken the stress off”, but frosts and cold soil temperatures might stymie pasture growth.
“We know we're going to get a bit of grass to grow now, so hopefully it doesn't get too cold or get any more frost,” he said.
“Once the ground temperature cools down, it gets harder for things to grow.”
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Mr Primerano is hoping for some follow-up rain around the end of this week to ensure moisture is retained in the subsoil.
Buckland cattle farmer and onion grower Colin McCormack said he’d received 73mm of rain on Thursday night, which he welcomed to fill his water tanks – the autumn had been so dry he had irrigated his onions for first time in the fifteen years he’s grown them.
When it comes to pasture, he predicted a possible ‘green drought’, where paddocks look green but there’s little growth from desirable plant species.
“Worst thing is those darn frosts,” he said.
“They knock the cattle about and cool the soil down, then you get no growth.”
He hoped the rain would trigger a rise in cattle prices, reversing a recent drop caused by farmers destocking due to a lack of rain.
He said it is likely he will continue feeding his cattle until spring.
“We need a good spring to get our hay back into the shed,” he said.
“It'll still be a tough winter, don't worry about that.”
Mudgegonga sheep and cattle farmer Lochie Fraser was a little more optimistic, predicting a short ‘green pick’ of young grass.
if we can get a few sunny days, we'll get a little bit of pasture grass, which will be great,” he said.
“Just occasionally we have those winters that do grow.
“The cattle we’ll have to feed right through, but I've got enough hay.”
