Stormy skies are causing concern and delays with this year’s winter crop harvest in the North West.
“The rain couldn’t have come at a worse time,” said Wee Waa agricultural consultant Steve Windress.
“The forecast doesn’t look very exciting and could potentially cost the grain industry a lot of money in terms of downgrading.”
Yesterday afternoon’s storm rolled through the town of Pilliga, damaging trees and the roof of a house, that thankfully isn’t currently occupied.
“It was dead still and then a storm just hit lasting 10 to 15 minutes,” said Pilliga resident Margie Cruickshank.
Mrs Cruickshank said rain measurements across the area varied from 13 to 40 millimetres.
The patchy rain will influence which crops are impacted and whether headers can keep rolling to get the grain off in time.
“Harvest is still in its infancy, we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Mr Windress.
So far, mostly faba beans and barley have been harvested and a bit of wheat.
Mr Windress said the rain was positive for the summer crops in the ground.
To order photos from this page click here
