Isolated dry patches exist in some areas and this is especially evident around Marlborough. Sub soil moisture is low in many areas and this may affect pasture retention in the coming months if no further rain is received. Generally pasture is of good quality where rain has fallen but insufficient bulk exists in most areas to carry producers through winter without follow up. Stock condition varies according to pasture availability and quality but generally condition is being maintained in most areas due to low stock numbers and some green shoot generated by recent rainfall. Drought movements to sale and agistment are on the increase as is the incidence of drought feeding.
Many producers are reluctant to feed stock due to the low returns for beef at present.
There has been some lightening off stock in the areas that have missed out on productive rainfall, especially in the Rosalie and Wambo Shires. Stock from these Shires have been sent to agistment in the Meandarra, Tara, Roma and Moonie areas. Drought feeding has not been necessary in most areas of the Region, however, it has commenced in the eastern Darling Downs and will increase if follow up rain does not eventuate. Useful rainfall along the coastal fringe and on the Atherton Tablelands during the month had positive and negative effects for farmers. At Bowen the rain caused delays to planting and harvesting as well as downgrading of some produce.