NORTH Coast agricultural industries have dodged a bullet, with the extreme weather fallout of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia's Queensland rampage not nearly as severe as originally forecast.
While rain wasn't needed, the widespread falls of about 200 millimetres between Coffs Harbour and the Queensland border caused only minor flooding on farms and very little crop and pasture loss or infrastructure damage.
The cloudy, breezy weather that has followed this week was ideal to prevent further losses where crops and fields sat under water, however most industries are now looking desperately for sunny days.
Extensive warning of the event meant stock was able to be moved to higher ground and pumps pulled up in plenty of time.
Local Land Services (LLS) North Coast livestock officer Nathan Jennings said it was unlikely the event would force any handfeeding, however pastures that were drenched would have declined significantly in quality.
Light rain in the days after the deluge had been effective in washing silt off paddocks but producers should be monitoring pasture recovery and be aware of the nutritional needs of their stock at this time, he said.
Where stock have had to congregate in smaller areas, producers should also be looking out for the possibility of poisonous plant consumption, stress-related pneumonia and worm burdens, LLS veterinarians said.
With soil profiles full, continued rain this month could cause serious problems in terms of pasture and crop losses, industry leaders said.
"Tall, mature seteria and Rhodes grass will drop in quality quickly under those conditions," Mr Jennings said.
North Coast Oilseeds president Paul Fleming said ongoing rainy weather had the potential to cause as much damage to the region's promising soybean crop as a flood.
"We need sunshine now to avoid disease issues," he said.
"At the moment, we've handled the big rain and are still on track to have better-than-average yields but the next few weeks will be critical."
Milk producers wanting to cut silage are also tearing their hair out for dry weather.
Norco director and Lismore district dairy farmer Leigh Shearman said the region's farmers relied on conserved summer feed and it would be a big strain on resources if silage could not be produced.
While milk tankers were diverted during the deluge, the pre-warning meant pick-ups were well co-ordinated ahead and after the event, she said.
Dairy farmers now should be monitoring pasture quality and watching for lameness and mastitis.
Despite some cane paddocks being under 200mm of water for several days, losses in the sugar industry were also relatively small.
NSW Canegrowers' Ross Farlow said the early break in the season meant crops were advanced and able to cope with that degree of waterlogging.
Macadamia orchards also fared much better than in recent year's cyclonic conditions, with just minor nut loss and leaf off trees and some orchard floor damage.
However, the start of harvest has been held up.