18 June 2015
FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said widespread, heavy falls of rain from Bourke to Bendemeer, Yetman to Blackville will boost hopes for winter crop and fodder growth.
Mr Joyce said while the falls further out west have been patchy in many recordings, there will be some livestock producers and croppers gaining some respite to the drought conditions experienced by thousands of farmers across the region.
He said the predictions by the Bureau of Meteorology had proven accurate to those farmers who’d punted on sowing winter cereal crops and boosted hopes of growing a good crop.
The news of the widespread rain is icing on ‘a good news cake’ for farmers with an announcement this week that the total value of Australian farm production is forecast to reach a record high in nominal terms of $53.7 billion in 2015–16, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.
Mr Joyce said that farm production value directly supported the livelihoods of Australian farmers and regional communities, as well as making a powerful contribution to the national economy and the way of life for all Australians.
“The Australian Government understands the importance of that contribution that agriculture delivers to the national economy, year in year out,” Minister Joyce said.
“The latest ABARES figures forecast the total value of farm exports in 2015-16 to be $41.8 billion dollars.
“That’s money in the bank for the Australian farming and agribusiness sector at a time when it couldn’t be more important.
“While we’re seeing record prices for beef and veal and export prices are up for live cattle, wool, barley and canola, among others, global prices for wheat and sugar are expected to fall from the levels seen in 2014–15.
Minister Joyce said that the Coalition Government clearly understood what was needed to strengthen and grow their farming enterprises and was delivering the policies needed to help build the soft-commodity sector that will deliver the jobs and prosperity for the future.
Rainfall recordings across the region late this morning included: Tamworth 43mm, Manilla 53, Barraba 51, Upper Horton 53, Bingara 39, Bundarra 27, Duri 56, Gunnedah 34, Mullaley 28, Tambar Springs 26, Coonabarabran 32, Terry Hie Hie 54, Moree 47, Gravesend 38, Warialda 39, Delungra 31, Inverell 35, Nullamanna 28, Bukulla 35, Ridgelands 26, Yetman 27, Coolatai 30, Mulla Creek 44, Bendemeer 42, Macdonald River at Retreat 38, Ogunbil 32, Walcha 13, Ben Lomond 19, Woolbrook 29, Uralla 17, Guyra 15, Yarrowyck 25, Armidale, 11, Nundle Head of Peel 40, Nundle Malonga 52, Blackville 44 and Bundella 25.
Further west of the Newell Highway, Walgett seems to have missed out with the official recording at 15mm while Baradine recorded 13, Pilliga 22, Burren Junction 11, Nyngan 33, Trangie 33, Dubbo 30, Gilgandra 41, Dunedoo 26, Narrabri 26, Bellata 51, Garah, 51 and Mungindi 51.