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Farmers warned of impending El Nino

Story Added : 02nd July 2009

Weather forecasters have told farmers in the New England and north-west New South Wales to brace themselves for a dry start to spring and summer.

The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics Outlook Conference at Armidale has been told weather patterns are expected to create an El Nino effect in coming weeks.

The bureau's Barry Hanstrum has told delegates it may affect finishing prospects for the winter cereal crops in the region.

"The way we know that is the southern oscillation index is becoming negative and decreasing," he said.

"The waters in the Pacific Ocean and the eastern Pacific are warming and both of those things are telltale signs things are shifting towards El Nino, following the La Nina conditions we experienced in late spring and early summer."

Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 02nd July 2009

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