The 2024 year in review

Key messages

• Decile 8-10 rainfall across the Riverine Plains in January increased stored soil moisture reserves. 
• Frost in September saw farmers weigh up the benefits of cutting for hay vs taking through to grain.
• Timely October rainfall combined with stored soil moisture from the previous season played an important role in maximising yield and water use efficiency. 
• Yields were better than expected given the dry conditions and frost, with barley a standout and reports of very good gross margins from pulses, especially faba beans and lupins.
• Dry conditions increased supplementary feeding requirements for livestock, adding cost and labour pressures for farmers. 

Summer rainfall 

January rainfall across most of the Riverine Plains was in the decile 8–10 range, placing it among the top 20 percent of years (Table 1). The early summer rain was largely a carryover of the combined effects of a positive Southern Annual Mode and a weakening El Nino. While excellent for water storage and perennial pasture growth, the rain increased pressure on farmers to keep up with summer weed control programs. February rainfall was average to below average for many locations across the Riverine Plains.

It’s estimated that most areas retained about 50 mm of summer rainfall through to sowing, though this will have varied depending on location, soil type, and the effectiveness of summer weed control. 

Autumn sowing conditions 

March brought average to below-average rainfall, while rainfall in April was average. Early sown crops (April) tended to emerge on soil moisture, while later sown crops (May) had to wait for additional rainfall. Variable paddock moisture conditions also contributed to a staggered germination in canola and a subsequent lag in development, although most crops managed to compensate by harvest. Early sown pastures established well, providing a good base for winter feed production. 

Severe slug damage wasn’t widely reported in 2024, likely due to a band of dry soil that prevented slugs from moving from moist soil at depth to the surface. 

Winter–spring conditions 

Rainfall dropped to below average (decile 1-3) in June before returning to average levels in July. The absence of waterlogging aided establishment and improved trafficability, allowing better delivery of nitrogen compared to previous years. 

August and September were particularly dry, with rainfall ranging from deciles 1–4. 

A significant frost event in mid-late September had grain growers weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of cutting crops for hay versus keeping for grain. Hindsight tells us that the frost damage was less severe than initially thought, with damage more prevalent in canola and wheat and variable in pulses. A key learning was to be patient and assess damage over 1-2 weeks before making a decision, as individual contexts varied. Where more moisture was available, frost recovery was better for indeterminate crops such as canola and pulses. 

The region was fortunate to receive widespread and timely rainfall in mid October, which was “just in time” for many crops following an extended dry winter–spring period. This combined with stored soil moisture to provide most crops with enough moisture for grain fill, with crops grown on heavier soil types tending to perform better. The drier winter–spring also made disease management easier. 

Better-than-expected harvest 

November saw another spike in rainfall, reaching decile 8–10 levels, while December was also wetter than average in many parts of the Riverine Plains. This interrupted harvest and hindered hay production, although it increased stored soil moisture at depth in some areas. In many cases trafficability was a major issue, with farmers having to wait until paddocks dried out before resuming harvest, to avoid bogging paddocks and machinery. Grain dust was also an issue after the rain, increasing the fire risk and contributing to a higher number of machinery fires. The rain also impacted grain quality (test weights, falling numbers) in cereals, potentially also impacting germination and vigour in seed retained for 2025. 

Crops generally yielded better than expected given frost and the dry conditions, with barley a standout and reports of very good gross margins from pulses, especially faba beans and lupins. This was in part due to returns from nitrogen fixation in pulses, and lower associated urea inputs, as well as good prices. Crop water use efficiency was impressive in many cases, although later sown crops generally suffered a yield penalty.

Overall, gross margin returns across the Riverine Plains were highly variable due to the dry conditions and frosts, as well as the high cost of nitrogen and other inputs. 

Livestock 

Sheep producers had a better year, with rain at the right time for pasture production and prices recovering at the start of 2024. The drier year helped keep diseases at bay, however dust caused widespread pink-eye issues, particularly in cattle. Dry conditions also meant that supplementary feeding was required through much of the year (and into 2025), which increased labour and cost pressures on farmers. Cattle prices remain an ongoing challenge for producers. 

The November and December rains also helped dryland lucerne growth, enabling good quantities of high quality lucerne hay to be produced.  

Table 1 Monthly rainfall and deciles (dec) for various locations across the Riverine Plains, 2024

DEC = decile

Rainfall totals sourced from Bureau of Meteorology, ClimateARM Riverine Plains and Dookie Land Management Group on-farm weather stations. 

Yearly rain and temperature

Overall, 2024 rainfall was average to below average across south east New South Wales and north east Victoria (Figure 1a, 1b).

Figure 1a and 1b Full year rainfall deciles across Victoria and NSW during 2024 (source BoM, 2025) 

Last year was also Australia’s second-warmest year since national records began in 1910, with the national annual average temperature 1.46 °C warmer than the long-term (1961–1990) average. 

In the Riverine Plains, mean temperature deciles were very much above average to highest on record across south east NSW and north east Victoria (Figure 2a, 2b).

Figure 2a and 2b Mean temperature deciles across Victoria and NSW during 2024 (source BoM, 2025) 

Summary

A wet end to 2023 and a wet start to 2024 increased stored soil moisture reserves across the Riverine Plains heading into the 2024 season. This provided an important moisture reserve given relatively low growing season rainfall received across many areas, and when coupled with a timely October rainfall event, made a significant contribution to grain yield. 

The dry spring, frost damage and rain at harvest caused significant logistical challenges, however crops generally yielded better than expected, with some impressive water use efficiency results. There were significant variations in rainfall and the level of frost damage experienced in 2024 and this contributed to highly variable gross margins across the region.