DRY AS A BONE column in Bush Telegraph by Gerard Walsh - A lighter look at rural life

THE rainfall recordings at our property Coolesha at Greymare go back 96 years and I am surprised rain has fallen every December, January and February in that time.

So the odds are high there will be rain in the next three months.

The lowest December recording at our place was 7.6mm, the lowest in January was 11.8mm and the lowest February recording 4mm.

All the other months have nil recordings and many have more than one nil.

Looking at the highest figures, it is easy to claim this is a summer rainfall area.

The highest fall on one day from May to September in the past 96 years is 77.3mm on May 3, 1996.

The other seven months have one day at least with 100mm plus, the best February 11, 1976, with 164.2mm.

We had 121.4mm on April 1, 1988, and 112mm on January 4, 1934.

Interestingly, January, March and October to December all have a highest daily fall of between 100mm and 110mm. Seems the rain knows when enough is enough.

There is only a kilometre or two between the headwaters of Greymare Creek and the headwaters of some of the creeks that run into Leslie Dam, so if there is a run in Greymare Creek, there is a good chance the level of Leslie Dam may also rise.

We have a mean rainfall at Greymare of 664mm annually and a median of 654mm.

The reality is it is getting hotter with plenty of records being broken in the past year or two.

All that means is that the 664mm average for the past 96 years isn't good enough any more. We need 700mm to be on par.

This year, we are getting close to par, the average down on the farm, and hopefully will reach my "new" average of 700mm.

MLA to the farm

THE number of farmers and people desperate for rain went up by one following the State Election on Saturday.

The retirement of MLA Lawrence Springborg adds one to the list of farmers in the Southern Downs and border areas.

Now the number of farmers on the Springborg farm at Yelarbon is two.

Lawrence's wife Linda has run the show for 28 years and has been doing a pretty good job while Lawrence has been out and about in the electorate. The Springborgs often top the lamb market in Warwick.

So Lawrence, you are now farm labourer/assistant manager at Kettles Forest.