Districts right across the Western Agricultural area, apart from Whyalla, received below average rainfall in June, contributing to below average falls for the year so far.

According to official figures Smoky Bay and Mount Hope were the worst affected with June falls well below average.

Smoky Bay’s average rainfall for June is 43 millimetres but only 5mm fell last month and Mount Hope got 4mm compared to the 67mm June average.

Coulta also got a lot less than usual, 26mm compared with the 90mm June average.

Cummins agronomist Mick Broad said the crops were not looking too bad considering how little rain there had been.

“The west half of Lower Eyre Peninsula is all doing reasonably well, apart from right on the coast, which is as dry as it’s ever been.”

Mr Broad said the recent windy weather had caused little patches of drift and Edillilie farmer Mick Dahlitz said it had left his crops looking “pretty ordinary”, but rain this week had already made an amazing difference.

Mr Dahlitz said he would take as much rain as he could get.

“The springtime is when we’ll really need it.

“If we can get average rainfall for July, provided we get a good August and September, that would be absolutely ideal.”

Tumby Bay agronomist Ron Simpson said the areas he had seen from Port Neill down had had well under average rainfall last month.

“It hasn’t shown itself too much though; most of the crops I’ve seen that are up are looking pretty good.

“I’m amazed at the way things look given the limited amount of rain we’ve had.”

Mr Simpson said the regular light falls had been enough to keep the topsoil damp but farmers would be looking for more serious rainfall from mid-July.

“The small amounts of rain are keeping it going but if we don’t get bigger rains mid-July we’re going to hit the wall.”

He said the Tumby Flats and further up the coast inland of Port Neill had suffered the most from the lack of rain and were also blown around the most in strong winds earlier this week.

But he said there was still a good amount of confidence among farmers.

Last year good early rains were not followed up with good finishing rains and Mr Simpson is hoping it will be the other way around this season.