Many farmers unable to get into paddocks near the lower reaches of the Macquarie River are now finding summer weeds already emerging through their flattened crops.
This added issue has arisen after weeks of rain has meant harvesting for some is only 60 per cent done as they still battle to get into paddocks.
Some farmers near Warren had to put up temporary levee banks to stop floodwaters coming down the Macquarie river and Gunningbar creek from destroying their crops.
For Meagan Kennedy and her husband Archie at Wangaratta, between Warren and Coonamble, it was a battle to save their broadacre crops.
"It's not good but we will still get some off, at least there will be something," she said.
The farm copped it from both sides with water running down from the Collie and Gilgandra areas.
"It was a bit below the flood of 2010."
They did not lose any infrastructure in this event.
"The open landscape of the western plains of NSW can be challenging in drought and flood," she said.
"These floodwaters saw many with crops underwater or have them downgraded.
"How they do it year after year to feed the world is a testament to the resilience of farmers. Something I deeply admire."
The Macquarie River hit 9.7m at Warren during the height of the flood.
Nutrien Nyngan agronomist Warren Judge said some farmers rushed in levee banks to save their crops.
"It was more the rain than the flooding that has put them on the ground," Mr Judge said.
Flood damage on the Bogan River was limited and the river didn't rise above minor flood level, but the real damage was near the Macquarie.
On Gunningbar Creek, "blokes were putting up levees to direct the water off the crop".
"Some of the crops are just sitting there waiting to be picked up, some have given up and summer grass is now coming through with the warmer weather.
"They'll get some of the crops off and hit it with a spray pretty quick."
Billy Browning, Narramine Station, said he was a lot better off than many others in the district.
He had only 60 per cent of the harvest done on his wheat, canola and chickpeas.
"We are way behind," he said.
"I dont know how the chickpeas have fared, we haven't got in their yet, everything's so wet."
North of Warren there was still a lot of water over paddocks.
Many areas recorded almost five times their normal November rain. Gilgandra had over 230mm for November.
Sunny and warm to hot weather is forecast over the next week that will allow farmers back into crops.
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
