A record dry July has put pressure on struggling winter crops and the prospects for summer crops in some areas across the state. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Seasonal Conditions Coordinator Ian McGowen said July was another record-breaking month with some areas of eastern and central NSW experiencing the driest July for 20 years, or the driest on record. “During July rainfall was below average across 71 per cent of the state,” Mr McGowen said.
“Pasture growth remained limited across much of inland NSW due to the lack of topsoil moisture, heavy frosts and grazing pressure.
During July, topsoil moisture declined across much of NSW, particularly across the northern tablelands, western, north western and central NSW,” said Mr McGowen.