Rain makes a rare harvest

The region's hay and silage harvest has entered rare territory after four months of well above average rainfall.
Harvesting is still continuing, well beyond the norm of about early to mid January with pasture growth continuing, a situation long time Warragul agricultural contractor Duncan McNeil said he could recall happening only once before.
From the start of October until last Wednesday, the final day of January, Warragul received one-third more rain than the 115-year average for that period - 447 millimetres compared to the average of 335 millimetres.
It's a similar story wherever you go in Gippsland, Mr McNeil said. "Had I been asked in September about the prospect for the the season I would have said poor and last probably about three weeks."
But he said steady rainfalls over the past four months had produced a lot of growth, possibly too much, and we've still got green grass in February when normally it would be browned off.
It has been quite exceptional and the weather is already feeling like autumn, he said.
The 111mm Warragul received in January was almost double the average for the month.
Falls were recorded on 10 days spread across the month with a two-day burst that produced 69.8mm on January 8 and 9 confining tractors, cutters, rakes and balers to farm sheds for the best part of a week.