Some parts of Australia are really crying out for a bit of rain’ as crops turn blue

The severe dry conditions affecting grain growing districts across Australia are expected to rob crops of potential and are threatening to put an unwelcome dent in the nation's grain production this season.

In parts of NSW, some farmers have watched on as some of their grain crops, in need of moisture, have turned blue.

Victoria is on track for its driest June-July on record, while Western Australia – the nation's biggest grain producer – is facing its second driest June-July on record.

After record national grain production last year put a floor under returns to farmers, despite low prices, the benefits of massive production won't be repeated this year. The dry conditions recently caused NAB to wind back its national wheat crop forecast, to 23.3 million tonnes.

And although the final month of winter is about to begin, reasonable rainfall is not on the horizon. In fact, northern Victoria has just experienced a bizarre burst of heat, with the temperature hitting 26.8 degrees at Mildura on Saturday.

Read Darren Gray’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “‘Some parts of Australia are really crying out for a bit of rain’ as crops turn blue.”