There is some dry seeding of canola. The weekend rain varied from 2-8 mm which was insufficient to change the situation. There is no paddock feed for sheep and the livestock situation remains very difficult with farmer consensus being that feed will reach the critical end point in about 3 weeks if no further rain falls. Farmers in the Jacup area commenced seeding on the thunderstorm rains but have now stopped due to dry conditions. Further west, from about Ongerup, weekend falls of rain were heavier and seeding is underway.
Livestock are generally very poor and still being heavily supplemented at high cost.
Many cases of pregnancy toxaemia in ewes and general emaciation are being reported with farmers again generally underestimating the amount of supplement needed for weak stock. With the late start it is expected pastures will not recover to grow a bulk of surplus feed for some time. Farmers may also face having to restructure budgets due to the high and unplanned cost of feeding. Further, over time there may be weed and other problems associated with importing hay and other fodder onto farms from far afield. Good rain fell throughout the district during the weekend.