RAIN fell across the state last week, which boosted farmers’ soil profiles and confidence for the season.
Others are still desperately needing follow up rain to get dry sown crops established and potentially, a run-off event.
Welcomed falls of rain hit the North West late last week, however, showers were reported patchy.
B&W agronomist, Luke Find, North Star, said the Moree region received between 8 to 20mm, with most farmers receiving about 10mm.
Mr Fing said the rain certainly helped crops that were out of the ground, but didn’t do a lot of good for crops that were dry sown.
With more rain predicted for the end of the week in the area, Mr Fing said people are taking a gamble and planting chickpeas on the back of a promising forecast.
“The rain was good, it got confidence up for this bit of predicted rain to come through,” he said.
The beaureau of meteorology (BOM) recorded falls of 17.4mm for Narrabri, 9.4mm for Gunnedah and 16.8mm for Tamworth late last week.
This month, Deniliquin has received 99.8mm of rain and Wagga Wagga has had 90mm, with a most recent fall of 15mm last week.
After a couple of good frosts the winter herbage is kicking in around Coonabarabran.
Agronomist Bob Freebairn said if forecasts for weekend rain proved to be correct, as much as 90 per cent of the state could be well set for winter.
"What we're really looking for is a good run-off event, it's been three years out here and in some places there has not been a lot off run off since 2011.”
Mr Freebairn said the Coonamble and Walgett region was still looking "pretty iffy".
The Central and Central West Tablelands region have finished the month of May with solid rainfall.
Late last week, Orange received 35mm, Hargraves topped the region with 37mm, and Bigga had a fall of 36mm.
Cowra had a fall of 19mm, Dubbo and Wellington received falls of 19 to 22mm.
Elders agronomist Peter Watt, Cowra, said the local area would end the month with about 120mm.
Given the area has received double the monthly rainfall average, Mr Watt said growers would not be looking for further soakings.
“It’s all coming up beautifully,” he said.
