The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) recently released its climate outlook for this spring.

This kind of data is essential for those employed in the agricultural industry, of which there are many in the local area.

The bureau is predicting another wet season for most of eastern and southern Australia, thanks to an Indian Ocean dipole event causing an increase in rainfall.

As we emerge from the nation’s wettest winter since 2016, many agricultural areas are benefiting from good levels of root zone soil moisture.

This also resulted in an increase in water storages in the area, with the Murray-Darling Basin rising about seven per cent.

While the bureau is not predicting a La Niña, its spring climate outlook says the dipole event is likely to cause above-average rainfall in parts of eastern Australia.

However, the government body warns that flooding is also likely in the eastern areas where catchments are wet and streamflows are high.

Managing director of Growth Ag, Kerry Watts, says the anticipated rainfall is great news for farmers.

“We are heading towards the best season we’ve seen since 2012,” he said.

“That’s largely due to the water available in storages, thanks to a wet autumn/winter, but also has a lot to do with the current groundwater and soil profile.

“Obviously we’ll still need some rain to continue, but the forecast for that looks positive, so we’ve got a pretty buoyant attitude at the moment.”

Mr Watts says the entire agriculture industry is set to benefit this season, but irrigators especially are looking forward to being able to access stored water.

He has no doubt the benefits of this outlook will flow-on to the local community and beyond.

“The whole of north west NSW relies on agriculture before any other industry – mining is important in the area too, but farming remains essential to the region,” Mr Watts said.

“And I know there will be flow-on effects from this season, particularly for communities such as Wee Waa, Narrabri, Tamworth and surrounds.”

But the good news extends beyond our own backyards, according to Mr Watts.

“It’s magnificent for our country on an international scale, given how exceptionally important agricultural commodity trading is to the Australian economy,” he said.

“While I don’t know the exact numbers, this year looks like it’ll be better than last year, and last year was of a high standard.”

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