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Wagga just had its fourth wettest winter start on record and the rain keeps on falling.
A total of 176 millimetres was recorded at the Wagga Bureau of Meteorology Forest Hill gauge for June and July, with another 17.8mm falling in the first two days of August. The city has had precipitation on more than a third of the days in 2016 so far. But that pales in comparison to some other areas.
Agronomist Don Kirkpatrick, from Maxwell Park near Mangoplah, said his gauge showed more than 600mm had fallen on his property. Wagga’s rainfall to date sits at 423.8mm.
He said farmers were experiencing waterlogging damage to their crops.
“It’s terribly wet around Ardlethan and Ganmain,” Mr Kirkpatrick said.
“The flat areas around Lockhart struggle badly.”
He said wheat and canola were coming to a vital point where farmers need to work the land to add vital nutrients to the soil to maximise yields. They are unable to do so due to the marsh-like conditions.
Urana farmer Paul Routley said farmers faced crop losses around his property.
“Logistically, you can’t get out on your property to spray,” he said.
“The crops are trying to grow, but there’s also been no sunshine for them to progress. We just need a fortnight of dry, sunny weather (to improve conditions).”
Dan Lloyd – a fourth-generation Mangoplah farmer – said it wasn’t all bad news.
He uses long-term weather forecasts as well as nature’s clues to best use his land, such as ants building high nests on his farm.
“Some call them old wives’ tales but it works for me,” Mr Lloyd said. “I’m looking at losing about 15 to 20 per cent through waterlogging, but that’s nothing compared to 90 per cent you’ll lose in a drought.”
The recent rain has forced some road closures in Lockhart Shire on Tuesday, with the Mangoplah Road at The Rock affected due to water over the road.
The Mittagong-Yerong Creek Road was also closed –as well as Jaegars Lane and Murphys Lane near Yerong Creek. The Osborne-Yerong Creek Road was also affected by water.
NSW State Emergency Service Murrumbidgee Region deputy controller Jon Gregory said the worst of the rainfall was over – at least for the next few days.
He said the region needed some dry relief to ease the pressure on already full waterways and saturated soil.
“There were reports of 20 to 25mm overnight – enough to create issues,” Mr Gregory said.
Burrinjuck Dam sits at 83.5 per cent full and Blowering Dam is at 74.3 per cent capacity. Mr Gregory said there were no plans to increase flows, but would remain in contact with WaterNSW to give landowners plenty of warning if anything changes.
