DPI Seasonal Conditions Coordinator Ian McGowen said that while early and mid-season winter crops are progressing well across the southern and central areas, rainfall is still needed across the State over the next two months for crop yields, particularly in northern NSW.

“At this stage crop conditions are good in the south and reasonable to good in central areas, but poor in areas of the north where crops have been sown – mostly east of the Newell Highway and in the Liverpool Plains areas,” Mr McGowen said.

“We’ve seen early and mid-season winter crops progressing well but the development of late sown crops has been slow.

“In some parts of the State early sown canola crops have already commenced flowering, putting them at risk of frost damage.”

Mr McGowen said that the seasonal outlook for the State is for generally drier conditions over the next few months.

"While the El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains neutral, we are seeing a continued 70 per cent chance of a moderate El Niño event occurring during spring, with drier and warmer than normal conditions likely between July and September across most of the State,” Mr McGowen said.

“The chances of exceeding median rainfall are less than 20 per cent in July, with somewhat below average pasture growth likely across most of NSW between July and September.”

However Mr McGowen noted that there has been some cooling in the sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific, meaning the chances of a strong El Niño event have been reduced.