Region dries out in heat
THE Toowoomba and Brisbane region has experienced its driest start to November since 1919 and Warwick is not far behind.
The hot weather has left our crops screaming for a drink, but Rod Petersen, of Petersen Grains, said it's nothing out of the ordinary.
"It's fairly common to get a dry period but it is difficult and we are desperate for rain," Mr Petersen said.
"Since it turned hot everything is drying out."
Mr Petersen said he ceased planting when the temperature escalated.
"All planting stopped mid last week and some growth has just come to a standstill," he said.
To ensure his corn crops are not spoilt, Mr Petersen will apply a fertiliser to help re-stimulate growth.
"These yellow stripes on the leaves mean nutrient deficiency, so if we don't get any rain over the next few days we will put some foliar fertiliser on it to give it a bit of a pick-me-up to get through the dry spell," he said.
"There is moisture in the soil and there has been good grass growth, but the summary of it is, yeah we do need rain."
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said the lowest recorded rainfall in November was in 1935, at 2.3mm. As of November 18 this year, only 0.6mm had fallen.
There is still hope for rain, with the November to January period supposed to have 75% above average rainfall.
