The NSW DPI State Seasonal Update for October shows the majority of NSW is still in drought despite average to above average rainfall being received over the past month.
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DPI’s leader of climate applications and digital agriculture, Dr Anthony Clark said the state’s farmers continue to face dry conditions.
“Mid-October rainfall provided significant easing of drought conditions along the coast and hinterland with parts of the Central Tablelands, Northern Tablelands and eastern Hunter showing strong signs of agronomic recovery with sustained pasture growth,” Dr Clark said.
“Unfortunately however, the latest estimates of drought intensity place up to 30 per cent of the state in the drought affected category, 50 per cent in drought and 19 per cent in intense drought.
“Areas of the Central West, North West and Western Region received limited rainfall, which has meant producers will continue their livestock feeding program and are faced with no summer crop options.”
DPI in collaboration with Geoscience Australia, has also undertaken the first ever comprehensive audit of farm dam levels across NSW.
“Considering the prospect of increasing evaporative losses over the warmer months, our assessment is that surface stock water supplies are currently critically low across much of NSW,” Dr Clark said.
“DPI is calling on farmers to make their observations available on a new App called, ‘NSWDPI Farm Tracker’. With more users, this will allow a more in-depth verification of the drought indicators for future state seasonal updates.”
The BOM rainfall outlook for November-January indicates that parts of northern, southern and western NSW have an increased chance of drier than normal conditions.
