MANY major grain-producing regions of Australia are enjoying their best autumn break since the 1990s.
In particular, the northern Riverina, South West Slopes and Central West in NSW, the Mid North in South Australia and Victoria's eastern Mallee, North Central and North East regions are off to a flyer, having received further good rainfall last week.
NSW Farmers grains committee chairman Dan Cooper said many growers he had been speaking to had said it was the best start to a winter cropping season since the 1990s.
He said he had received 120 millimetres of rain in the past month at his property between Grenfell and West Wyalong, NSW, but this figure increased to up to 250mm around Parkes and Forbes in the Central West.
In Victoria, Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Brett Hosking said there had been a similarly good start in most areas.
"Apart from parts of the Wimmera, most areas had a really good drink last week, ranging from 30mm to 60mm."
He said ironically it was almost too wet in the area around Swan Hill, one of the State's low-rainfall zones.
"Temperatures are still reasonably high so it will all dry up quickly enough and allow for a timely plant," Mr Hosking said.
Ian Hastings, Ouyen, said it had been the perfect start following a poor year last year, with 35-60mm in the Ouyen area last week backing up good summer rain.
"We are busy planting at present and would hope to be onto wheat by Anzac Day," Mr Hastings said.
"Getting a start like this, with warm and wet soils, is like winning Tattslotto."
At the Yea cattle store sale last week, full raingauges translated to an increased yarding and better prices for some lines, according to Stock & Land market analyst Peter Kostos.
"The paddocks are turning green and it created some strong competition," Mr Kostos said.
"The other side at the Yea sale was that it bought cattle into the market as well.
"The yarding of heifers was very good; I haven't seen a yarding of that quality there for quite some time."
Meanwhile, wet sheep in many parts of the State meant shearing took a week-long hiatus.
According to Elders' wool selling manager Simon Hogan, this meant bale numbers offloaded at the Brooklyn wool stores were expected to decrease in the coming weeks.
Given that numbers were already starting to dry up going into seeding, this could tip the supply-demand balance in favour of those selling wool, he said.