RIVERINA croppers are on tenterhooks now as record spring rainfall shows little sign of easing before Christmas.
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Albury gained a whopping 123.4 millimetres of rain during November, up from 38 millimetres in November 2020.
Overall, it scored 254 millimetres of rain throughout spring, which was more than double last year's spring tally of 126 millimetres.
Table Top farmer and agronomist Leon Martin said the unusually high rainfall could continue until Christmas.
Mr Martin said he believed the widespread La Nina weather event was generated by monsoonal activity in the Top End of Australia.
"In recent years we couldn't get wet, even the Top End was dry," he said.
"We're in a cycle now that could run through until Christmas or cut out at any time; there's a 50:50 probability the rain will keep coming.
"Normally at this time of year there's a 10 per cent chance of follow-up and a 90 per cent chance it will stay dry; this year it's a 50:50 chance."
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Mr Martin said croppers were nervous about sprung grain and getting harvesters and trucks into waterlogged paddocks.
"Cobram and further west missed out on the big falls we had in Albury," Mr Martin said.
"Echuca got 6 millimetres when we got 94 millimetres here.
"They have been able to strip their crops but the further you go up in NSW there have been hold-ups.
"North of Walbundrie croppers are having trouble getting their grain off and not being downgraded."
Chiltern-based Hotsons Cherries co-owner Lois Hotson said the spring rains had caused some splitting in early varieties.
She said they had picked six of their 17 varieties.
"We've certainly had a bit of splitting but we've had some really nice cherries too," she said.
"The rain has been great for the trees and the demand for cherries is there."
Mrs Hotson said every cherry season had its own particular challenges.
"A little bit of rain every now and then doesn't hurt but heavy storms aren't so good," Mrs Hotson said.
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