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New South Wales crop farmers waiting for rain
Australia
Tuesday 13 May 2008
All eyes are on the skies in New South Wales, hoping winter sowing rains of between 50 or 75 millimetres are on the way.
Farmers are getting nervous and the latest drought figures from the New South Wales Government are not providing any comfort.
They're bracing themselves for another horror season, with almost half of NSW now once again drought declared.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, says these figures represent a real fear that the winter crop may yet again be savaged by drought as the crucial autumn break still hasn't arrived.
The big rains of December and January mean that there is subsoil moisture, but no seedbed moisture to be able to sow.
Forecasts for the winter crop are still healthy, with tonnages holding at above average levels.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma has already hinted that State Governemnt will make further funding provision for the drought in the State Budget on June 2.
Farmers are getting nervous and the latest drought figures from the New South Wales Government are not providing any comfort.
They're bracing themselves for another horror season, with almost half of NSW now once again drought declared.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, says these figures represent a real fear that the winter crop may yet again be savaged by drought as the crucial autumn break still hasn't arrived.
The big rains of December and January mean that there is subsoil moisture, but no seedbed moisture to be able to sow.
Forecasts for the winter crop are still healthy, with tonnages holding at above average levels.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma has already hinted that State Governemnt will make further funding provision for the drought in the State Budget on June 2.
