Queensland experiencing its warmest June on record

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ueensland is experiencing is warmest June on record.

And to worsen that, the Brisbane Courier Mail reports, is new data illustrating present dry conditions are likely to persist for the next three months.

According to the Weather Bureau’s long term outlook, above normal temperatures across much of the country are expected this month.

Hydrologist Paul Feikema said temperatures this month had been so far one to three degrees above average.

“This is setting the scene for one of the warmest Junes on record,” Dr Feikema said.

He said drought-bearing El Nino conditions continued to strengthen, although, he added, they did not preclude rain and showers due to local conditions as was the case on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterland.

A situation described as “extraordinary” by Agforce Grains spokesman, Wayne Newton, had evolved in Queensland where farmers in the drought belt had nothing while those in other areas were doing quite well.

The Darling Downs had, according to Mr Newton had received about 100ml of rain some two months ago leading to substantial plantings of wheat, barley and chickpeas. He said plantings had also happened in central Queensland.

Chickpea prices had risen sharply following crop failures on the sub-continent, resulting in many Queensland farmers receiving up to $850 a tonne, well above the usual $450 a tonne.

The state-wide variations in heat and rain saw graziers in the far west, southeast, east and north achieving boom-like prices for cattle and sheep, while farmers in the heart of the state were without feed.

“It’s not all gloom and doom in the grain industry, but its fingers crossed for the rest of the season,” Mr Newton said.