Ongoing spring rain is boosting south-west farmers’ hopes of good feed crops.
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Warrnambool received nine millimetres from Thursday, November 1 until 9am Wednesday, November 7, while Hamilton got 19.2mm during the same period, Port Fairy 11.6mm and Portland airport 16.6mm. Camperdown got 11mm from November 1-4.
Woolsthorpe farmer Russell Selway said on Wednesday morning his properties had received about 9mm in the past week.
Mr Selway said the rain had rejuvenated pastures. He expected the rain would allow many paddocks that had been recently cut for silage to now grow again.
South-west farmers are trying to grow as much livestock feed themselves because the cost of imported feed has skyrocketed.
Paul Smith from Bade Ness Rural agronomy field sales in Warrnambool said any rain at this time of year was appreciated.
Apart from giving farmers the chance of getting a second feed crop from paddocks cut for silage, the rain would also help brassica crops that would be grazed by livestock in summer, he said.