Australia Weather News

Grain growers across parts of southern Western Australia have welcomed an early seasonal break, amid significant uncertainty caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Rainfall earlier this week was widespread across isolated areas, with Hopetoun in the Southern Coastal region recording more than 20 millimetres, while the Great Southern had similar amounts, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Lake Grace farmer Reuben Smith said the recent rain on his property — which recorded 18 millimetres earlier this week — brought welcome relief after an unpredictable start to the season. 

"This rain is really, really relieving," Mr Smith said. 

"Planning in the lead-up to seeding, there were definitely a few spanners thrown in the works.

"There was so much angst, not knowing if we were going to get the right amount of fertiliser, or fuel, and not knowing how that was going to affect our seeding programs.

"But now it's settled down a bit, since we've got bums in seats and actually started seeding. This rain is great." 

The Wheatbelt farmer said the start of the 2026 season had been “patchy” in terms of rainfall, though he did receive some earlier in the year following ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

"When Cyclone Narelle came down, we managed to jag around 17mm," Mr Smith said.

"Prior to that, we've had a little bit but not a great deal.

"Fingers are definitely crossed for more."

'Challenges farmers haven't seen before'

Agronomist Ben Whisson said the rain was a strong start to a season he described as unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"It's been very uncertain with some challenges that we haven't seen before," he said.

"Pricing fluctuating that comes and goes is not unusual.

"But … supply has been so uncertain and whether we would actually get our seeding supplies at all [has been too]. We haven't seen something like that, I don't think ever, in my experience."

He said compared to last year's record crop, it could be a different outlook this harvest season, not only due to supply constraints but also because of an increase in prices across the board. 

"We are looking at a very different scenario. We've had a lot of seasons where the budgets don't look very good in February, but the seasons have been relatively kind and it's rained and we've been able to generate some good crops and some good returns, whereas as the prices keep going up, the risk keeps going up," Mr Whisson said.

"This is why when you are talking to a lot of people at the moment, they'll say this is the most risky crop they've put in for a long time, not just because of supply, but because … the cost of putting the crop in just keeps escalating.

"We don't know whether there's going to be enough fuel later in the season, but we have enough at the moment so we need to continue on under those circumstances."

In WA's South West, Boyup Brook farmer Ben Creek said his spirits had been lifted by the recent rain. 

"We're looking at around 31mm for April, which is a great start and looks like it is an early break," Mr Creek said. 

The mixed grain, sheep and cattle farmer said despite the uncertainty when it came to grain, the sheep market had offered him some optimism.

"To have wool prices and lambs where they are now, that is the spirit-lifters we need," Mr Whisson said. 

"It's encouraging, put it that way."