IT HAS been a hellish start to summer but this week, at least, some producers are breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of some much-needed rain.
The totals have been patchy and most say the relief is only short term, but the storms have at least given producers some heart that the skies still know how to make the rain fall.
Rainfall reports from across the state include:
- At Yelarbon near Goondiwindi, Danny Wilkie, Glenlovely, reports 70mm in the past week.
Mr Wilkie says that will give him the start to growing some grass, and with reports of 40mm upwards in the district, will give his neighbours some ground moisture for cropping.
- At Cunnamulla, Boyd and Jane Bignell, Widgeegoara, have received 50mm over two falls, giving short-term relief to enable them to get through shearing.
- Near Tambo, Len and Helen Sargood, Drensmaine, have been blessed with 87mm, which they say will put them out of drought for the time being.
- Some 80km north of Longreach, Hugh Button, Crossmore, has reported 38mm.
- In Clermont district, some big winners included Andrew and Sonya Harvey, Kenlogan, who have received 135mm since last Friday.
"It means bloody everything," Mrs Harvey said. While patchy across the district, Mrs Harvey says the rain has created a run in the West Logan Creek, filled a dam and provided summer planting options.
- At Biloela, Eric Nobbs, Lyndhurst Brahmans, has received 64mm.
- Oskar and Judith Stunzner, Lomandra, Bajool, have received 50mm.
- At Norwin on the Darling Downs, Jenny and David Lobwein received 60mm to 70mm in about three main falls since Friday night.
"I think we will probably give planting a go - probably more so into stubble than fallow country, though," Mrs Lobwein said.
- Jason Schelberg, who has the official Macalister rain gauge on his property, says while they have received rain in the Macalister area, he has heard of falls of up to 90mm in the Jimbour district.
"We received 18.5mm on Friday night, 18mm on Sunday night, 6.5mm on Monday and 9mm on Tuesday," he said.
- Brisbane Valley beef producer Duncan Brown says they have received good rain and there has been run-off into dams.
"We have country at Coominya that got 47mm on Tuesday and that came off the back of 35mm received over the past 10 days," he said.
"It has changed things dramatically, which has been great."
More showers and storms were predicted for southern and central parts of the state on Thursday and Friday, as another trough system moved in from the west.
Helen Walker
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Rockhampton.
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Rockhampton.
