After nearly a week of sweltering temperatures hovering around the 40C mark, Callide valley farmers Tim and Trish Sullivan, Navillus, Biloela, Qld, relished the more than 40mm of rain that started falling in the early hours of January 2 marking a wet start to 2009.
Besides cooling temperatures, the rain provided a timely drink for the Sullivans' sorghum, cotton, and organic herb crops, and a good boost to pastures for their EU-accredited Droughtmaster cattle.
"Some of the dryland cotton was suffering in the heat but hopefully this rain will revive it," Mr Sullivan said.
It's the best start to the new year the Sullivans could hope for and they weren't alone, with much of Queensland experiencing good falls in the past week. (See separate story about north-west Qld).
Parts of the State's Central Highlands, Central West, North and Darling Downs areas all received over 25.4mm (one inch in the old measurement) in the first few days of 2009.
The parched town of Cloncurry recorded 248mm, while official measurements for the week up until January 5 saw Goondiwindi receive 33mm, Emerald 53mm, Springsure 35mm, Isisford 56mm, Longreach 72mm, Barcaldine 72mm, Winton 184mm, Richmond 145mm, Boulia 53mm, Bowen 101mm, and Sarina 87mm.
DPI&F principal technical officer, Maurice Conway, Emerald, said some spring crops on the Central Highlands suffered hail damage from storms, particularly in mungbean crops.
But generally the rain proved beneficial, giving many the impetus to forge ahead and plant summer crops."
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