March 7, 2007

Australian rainfall deficiencies affect wheat lands in west, south-east
 

Despite heavy rain in February in some areas, serious-to-severe rainfall deficiencies in the 12 months ending Feb 28 are affecting wheat lands in western and south-eastern Australia and south-east Queensland, the government's Bureau of Meteorology reported late Tuesday.

"The worst of the deficiencies are likely to remain for some time," the bureau said in a statement.

For rainfall deficiencies built over the past 12 months to be removed by the end of May, falls over the next three months would need to be in the highest 10 percent of the historical record in many areas, or at record-high levels in some instances, it said.

In comparison with the situation for the 12 months to the end of January, rainfall deficits were eased or removed along parts of the southern New South Wales coast and in east Gippsland, in the country's far south-east, it said.

This has occurred against a backdrop of multi-year rainfall deficits that have severely stressed water supplies in the east and south-west of the country, it added.

Australian wheat growers typically plant winter crops including wheat after rains in May and June.