RIVERLAND and Mallee primary producers experienced a dry end to 2021, however strong November rainfall meant Lower North farmers exceeded their annual rainfall average. 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recorded a total of 44.4mm of rain in Renmark throughout November, however, this fell sharply to just 2.2mm in December. 

The November figure was an increase on the 6.2mm recorded the previous year – and above the November historical average of 21mm – although 10.4mm also fell in December 2020. 

BoM also recorded 41.5mm of rain in Loxton during November – well above the long-term average for the month of 23.4 – however, the town only received 1.8mm in December, compared to 9mm in December 2020. 

Waikerie saw 66.8mm of rain during November, compared to the long-term average of 29.9mm for the month, while 3.2mm fell in December. 

Rainfall figures of 59mm in November and 2.4mm in December brought Gawler’s total rainfall for 2021 to 393.8mm, which was just above the long-term average of 375.5mm. 

Lameroo saw a total of 225.8mm of rain for 2021, down from the annual total average of 308.5mm 

Latest reports from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority indicated total active storages had reached 7953GL by the end of January, or 93 per cent capacity.

This marked a 1 per cent decrease compared to the beginning of November, however it was a 42 per cent increase on the same time in 2021.