Riverina Local Land Services

Conditions and outlooks are positive in the west of the region; drying trend continues in the east.

• The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) shows approximately 32% of the region is in the Drought Affected category at the end of August.
• Average to below average rainfall totals were recorded across the region for August, with timely follow-up rain received at some locations.
• On ground reports suggest that eastern parts are still experiencing a green drought as temperatures remain cold with little pasture growth.
• Producers in the west of the region are taking advantage of good pasture growth through late August through agistment and restocking opportunities.
• Other areas continue to report good production outlooks, with crops responding well to good levels of soil moisture and timely and effective rainfall events.
• Producers continue to monitor forecasts closely and are implementing farm management strategies in line with conditions, with a focus on crop inputs, feed budgeting, fodder production and livestock health.
• The DPIRD continues to closely monitor conditions in this region.

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Normalised Difference Vegetation Index

Plant greenness levels have improved but remain variable across the region for the June to August period.

Note that some of the extremely negative NDVI areas (brown patches) are water bodies.

The NDVI anomaly is a useful measure of vegetation density and plant health. It estimates the amount of green vegetation there is in the landscape compared to what is expected at the given time of year, against the baseline period 1987 - 2020.

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Individual Drought Indicators

Drought indicators continue to remain low in the east and are declining in the west.

• Drought indicators in the west of the region remain high, but have started to decline in some parts of the west in recent weeks. This is due to short-term rainfall deficits over the last few months.
• The drought indicator values continue to remain low in the east, including at Gundagai.
• The soil water and plant growth indicators continue to decline at Temora, while the rainfall indicator remains high.
• Timely and effective follow up rainfall will be crucial over the coming months, particularly in the east of the region.

To access a Drought History chart for your Parish, visit the Seasonal Conditions Information Portal.