weekly weather and crop bulletin - The World AgroMeteorological ...

38 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin October 5, 2010Unfavorably dry weather further reduced crop prospects inWestern Australia, where many winter crops are in thereproductive stage of development. Farther east, warm, sunnyweather reduced soil moisture in South Australia, Victoria, andsouthern New South Wales, but moisture supplies weregenerally adequate for winter grain and oilseed developmentfollowing abundant winter and early spring rainfall. Elsewherein the wheat belt, widespread showers (5-50 mm) in northernNew South Wales and Queensland kept filling winter wheatAUSTRALIAadequately watered and further increased reservoir levels forirrigated summer crops. The wet weather delayed fieldwork,however, including summer crop planting. The persistent rainhas likely begun to hamper the drydown of the earliestmaturing winter wheat and has slowly increased concerns thatgrain quality may be reduced if the rain does not end soon.Temperatures in southern and eastern Australia averaged 1 to 2degrees C below normal, while in Western Australiatemperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal.For additional information contact: meteorologists@oce.usda.gov