Australia’s Summer Crops Need Generalized Rain
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, December 21 (World Weather Inc.) – Rain scattered through a large part of eastern Australia during the past week, but some of the resulting rainfall was not sufficient to counter evaporation and the need for rain remains significant. Soil moisture is short to very short in portions of 
the summer grain, oilseed and cotton production region. Rainfall will be erratic during the next two weeks offering short term improvements to topsoil moisture in some areas periodically, but a net drying bias may occur most often, especially in Queensland.
Queensland and New South Wales reported 0.25 to 1.50 inches of rain with local amounts up to 2.75 inches for the seven-day period ending this morning. Victoria received less than 0.50 inch of rain while much of South Australia and Western Australia were dry or mostly dry. Temperatures were near normal with highs in Queensland and northern New South Wales often warming into the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit. Several locations also frequently warmed above 100 degrees. Highs elsewhere were in the 70s and 80s with many areas in Victoria and South Australia only warming into the 60s.
Portions of central and southern New South Wales have adequate moisture in the topsoil stemming from the recent rain. 
However, the main summer crop production areas in Queensland and New South Wales have short or very short moisture. Both areas were struggling with dryness at times in November and earlier this month. The recent precipitation was not enough to significantly bolster soil moisture outside of a few locations in east-central New South Wales. Drying rates were also high between rain events due to the warm to hot daytime temperatures. There is still time for better rainfall to improve planting and establishment prospects.
Corn planting normally continues through the end of December while soybeans, sorghum, sunseed, and other summer crops are planted through January and the beginning of February. Recently planted crops established under less than favorable conditions in Queensland and New South Wales. Some producers may be waiting for significant rain before resuming fieldwork.
Precipitation will be erratically distributed across Queensland and New South Wales during the next two weeks. Most areas will get rain at one time or another, but no long term relief from dryness is expected in unirrigated fields because the precipitation will often be too light to counter evaporation or impact long-term soil conditions. Moisture totals through next Wednesday morning will range from a trace to 0.75 inch with portions of eastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland receiving 1.50 inches or more of rain.
Temperatures will trend near to above average in eastern Australia through next Wednesday. Daytime highs will again peak into the 80s and 90s most often with portions of Queensland and northern New South Wales warming above 100 degrees. There will be times when temperatures only warm into the 60s and 70s due to the periods of rain and cloudy skies. Net drying will evolve in much of Queensland and New South Wales during the coming week. Several crops in Queensland will be stressed from the lack of rain and periods of hot weather.
A majority of the winter wheat and barley should be out of the ground. Late season harvesting will advance swiftly around the periods of rain in southern Australia during the next seven days. Canola harvesting is complete.
Irrigated crops in Australia are still in favorable condition and water supply is sufficient to support summer crops in a favorable manner because of abundant late winter and early spring rainfall.
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