Farmers across the MIA are holding their breaths in anticipation to see how their crops will be affected from increased rainfall, following the declaration of a La Nina weather event.
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According to the Bureau of Meteorology, La Nina events increase the chance of above average rainfall across much of northern and eastern Australia during summer.
The weather phenomenon can have both positive and negative impacts on both agriculture and horticulture industries, with the rain both serving as a means of improving pastures and creating higher crop yields as well as the potential flooding of farm lands and pastures.
Yenda irrigator Chris Morshead said that the recent rain was 'particularly poor timing'.
"We really don't need heavy rains for days at harvest time, it creates significant headaches,' Mr Morshead said.
"All growers have a lot of weather affected grain and and in our situation we have a lot of seed crops such as canola that we are desperately trying to harvest before they sustain any further damage"
"If we receive any more rain there will be serious problems."
President of the Australian Customer Harvesters Association and harvesting contractor Rod Gribble said the wetter than average conditions made things 'very difficult'.
"No one likes rain at harvest time," Mr Gribble said.
"Whilst majority of the cereal crops will be able to be harvested, the high rainfall can be very detrimental to the quality."
And whilst there are positives to the rain with rapidly filling soil profiles and dams, and dryland farmers able to put water away for next year, the rain will continue to create significant problems for farmers in the months to come.
"From an irrigator's perspective we only have rice planted this year but it is well behind where it should be with its development, and speaking with other irrigators they are seeing the same thing with their cotton," Mr Morshead said.
"From a summer cropping viewpoint, the cool cloudy is causing big issues from a growth perspective".
Mr Gribble did note however that future crops would benefit.
"The moisture retained in the soil will be of great benefit to next year's harvest," Mr Gribble said.
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NSW Farmers Grains Committee chair Justin Everitt told The Area News that the recent rain was the latest in a series of significant losses for farmers.
"Part of farming is dealing with nature, but it is cruel for our growers to watch these amazing crops - this potential income after so many years of drought - drowned before they could be harvested," Mr Everitt said.
"People in farming and small rural communities know the impact this sort of weather has on people, you spend a huge amount of money sowing a crop in the hope it will pay off for you and your family and then to see those paddocks go under, that's bank repayments, school fees, Christmas presents going under as well."
NSW Farmers President James Jackson recommended that to salvage this years grain crop, farmers must 'get it harvested' as soon as possible.
He also called on councils for bridge and road repairs following the rain, to ensure farmers are able to get their harvest to market.
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