2021 winter rainfall figures eclipse 2020 amounts with harvest drawing closer

Cropping areas including Corowa, Yarrawonga and Deniiliquin all had more rain across the last three months compared to 2020 when an old fashioned autumn break became the catalyst for a successful harvest.

Corowa had 183.3 millimetres fall during June, July and August compared to 151.8mm for the same period last year.

Yarrawonga also fared well with 162mm, up from 125.8mm in 2020 and Denilquin, which recorded only 88.8mm last winter, had 115.2mm.

The biggest monthly total of the three centres was 88mm in Corowa in June followed by 74.2mm in Yarrawonga.

August was the driest month of winter with totals of 26.3mm, 24.8mm and 20.6mm in Corowa, Yarrawonga and Deniliquin respectively.

Graincorp has already announced plans to build one million tonnes of new storage capacity at several sites including some in North-East Victoria in anticipation of another bumper harvest.

IN OTHER NEWS

Canola prices have also spiked again to more than $900 per tonne.

Balldale's Beau Longmire said the break came earlier last year, but the outlook remained positive.

"Last year was almost a perfect growing season, 2021 has been a bit damper and colder through winter, but we've still got spring to go," he said.

"We are little bit behind where we were last year, but it's still pretty good and commodity prices are stronger than what they were last year."

Beef producing regions haven't missed out.

Mitta recorded 131.9mm and 187.6mm in June and July with Dederang having 113.9mm and 145.6mm in the same two months.

Total winter for both towns exceeded 300mm with Mitta having around 130mm more rain this winter compared to 2020.

Lake Hume, which has risen to 94.4 per cent capacity, recorded 270.6mm in winter.

Dartmouth Dam is also on the rise to above 72.8 per cent capacity.

Healthy rainfall totals help continue to drive up farmland prices with an Upper Murray property selling at auction last week for more than $10,500 on a per acre basis.

Holbrook's combined June and July rainfall of 203mm was just short of the entire winter total of 205.6mm last year.

Wangaratta also had back-to-back monthly totals of 104.6mm and 81.2mm in June and July on its way to a winter total of 206.7mm compared to 120.2mm last year.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: