AFTER a dream run leading up to the 2021 winter crop harvest, growers are now assessing the prospects of rain damage and a delayed harvest.
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The rain, which arrived last week, was heavy but not too devastating for Riverina crops given the fact much of the wheat was still green and large tracts of canola was windowed.
However, this week all eyes are on the rain radar to see just how much falls between now and the weekend.
In fact, the Elders weather online site was down on Wednesday morning due to too much traffic.
Parts of the Riverina are expecting falls of up to 100mm over the next few days, and while the rain isn't necessarily wanted, it's the damaging winds that could potentially wreak havoc.
Ben Langtry of "Marravale", at Marrar in the Riverina said the rain would delay harvest.
"It is going to delay harvest a fair bit ... depending on how much we get," Mr Langtry said on Wednesday.
"The rain is pushing us back past Christmas and into the New Year with harvest," he said.
Mr Langtry explained the onset of rain had put everything in limbo. And at best they probably wouldn't get back onto paddocks until the middle of next week.
"The wind-rowed canola could still blow away and it (rain) is causing a bit of mould," he said.
"Depending on whether the rain arrives, or goes around us we could get 100mm in the next few days," he said.
In terms of flooding he wasn't anticipating too many challenges due to good drainage.
The weather arrives on the back of a wet weather in the region last week too.
IN THE GAUGE SO FAR (to Wednesday 9am):
- Hillston 47mm
- Tooma 10mm
- Tumbarumba 11mm
- Tumut 13mm
- Bourke 32mm
- West Wyalong 9mm
- Cootamundra 5mm