Pasture growth continued to improve across most of the state as NSW experienced the wettest period on record from winter to early spring, with the wetter than normal conditions likely to continue throughout October.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Seasonal Conditions Coordinator Ian McGowen said during September rainfall was above average across 87 per cent of the state.
“September was the wettest on record for NSW. Most of inland NSW received extremely high rainfall of more than 200-400 per cent of the average,” Mr McGowen said.
“The far west and areas of central west, Riverina and the north west received rainfall of more than 400 per cent of the average.
“During September, most of NSW received 50-200 mm with much of inland NSW receiving 100-200 mm and some areas as high as 200-300 mm or more.
“Pasture growth continued to improve across most of the state, although waterlogging and inundation restricted or slowed pasture growth in some areas.”
Mr McGowen said the conditions resulted in topsoil moisture remaining high during September, particularly across areas of the Riverina, far south, central west and the southern and central tablelands.
“Subsoil moisture levels also continued to increase across NSW. Relative to historical records, subsoil moisture was well above average to extremely high across most of inland NSW and areas of the coast,” Mr McGowen said.
“The extremely wet conditions resulted in major winter crop damage from waterlogging and inundation, particularly in central and southern areas of the state and some areas of the north west. Early indications suggest these crop losses are in excess of $700 million and are expected to rise.
