WA farmers’ confidence falls after dry start, but rain offers hope

The driest WA autumn on record has withered the confidence of farmers across all producing sectors, a new rural study has found.

The latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, released this morning, noted the State’s farmers had been negatively hit during the past three months in the wake of an extended dry spell.

The parched conditions caused grain growers’ negative outlook to rise from 12 per cent in the March quarter to 44 per cent.

However, Rabobank regional manager for WA Steve Kelly said last week’s rains had provided a sense of hope for many producers, particularly Wheatbelt grain growers.

“The weather fronts that have come across the state in recent days have brought very widespread rainfall across many regions and have really put WA back in the game,” he said.

“There is now some sort of a chance for an average crop for parts of the Wheatbelt, although follow-up rain will be even more critical than ever to see the crops along.”

More in this Thursday’s Countryman.