Boon for farmers
CANEFARMERS finally have a big reason to smile with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting ideal conditions over the next three months.
BOM climate services manager Jeff Sabburg said the outlook for August to October included a good chance of higher-than-average temperatures.
"The median maximum temperature is 24-27 degrees," Mr Sabburg said.
"And there is a very high probability, 75-80%, of temperatures being above that."
Another win for canefarmers is an expected 100-200mm of rain in that three month period.
"There's a 50-55% chance of exceeding that, though."
Bargara Rd canefarmer Joe Zunker said the prediction was a positive one for farmers who had already faced a far-from ideal start to the crushing season.
"The warmer weather will be really good for us," Mr Zunker said.
"It will help us to get our ratoons away nice and fresh."
Mr Zunker said the recent weather had caused him to fall a month behind schedule.
"We're about four weeks behind because of the wet," he said.
"So we've got to try and pick that up between now and the end of November."
Mr Zunker said having Bingera Mill operate seven days instead of the usual five was a huge help to farmers.
"They came to the party so every week, we're picking up an extra two days," he said.
Mr Zunker said the predicted rain would be welcome after August.
He said it would be lovely to see some rain from September on.
July weather
Lowest temperature:
5.4 on July 30
Lowest maximum:
16.7 on July 15
Highest minimum:
19.7 on July 13 and 14
Highest temperature:
25.5 on July 14
Record low July temperature:
0.8 in 1963
Record high July temperature:
29 in 1964
Total monthly rainfall:
89.4mm
Highest rainfall in one day:
52mm on July 15
Bundaberg mean July rainfall:
40.9mm
Record July rainfall:
381.5mm in 1973
