Gunnedah recorded 172mm for June, July and August which is above the three-month average of 110mm.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it was the wettest August in nine years with 71mm recorded. In 2007, the district received 75mm. 

The rain has been a welcome relief for farmers, with pasture and winter crops receiving a much-needed lift. 

Canola has burst into colour across the district, particularly on the Liverpool Plains however plantings are the lowest they have been in NSW since 2011, mainly due to the planting of pulses like chickpeas which have been fetching between $800-1000 per tonne.  

According to the Australian Oilseed Federation, prospects for this year’s canola crop have brightened significantly following the good rain in May and the lower Australian dollar.

Executive Director Nick Goddard said there are some good crops on the Liverpool Plains and further west, despite the lower plantings which have totalled 500,000 hectares in NSW.

“That's down mostly because the space has gone to pulses,” he said.

"Canola goes in a bit early. It needs to go in at the end of April.

“Chickpeas have a longer planting window so the dry conditions at the tail end of summer and into Autumn, there was a higher risk for canola at that time. 

“We had that break in early May, and that then gave canola in the ground a good start, but also enabled those that wanted to go with chickpeas to plant into moisture.”

Mr Goddard said it’s a great season for canola because of the rain that came just after planting.

“All the crops, really everything around the state, is looking really good,” he said.

Canola prices are softer than last year due to an abundant supply of  soybeans around the world, however they lifted overnight. 

The three-month weather outlook for Gunnedah remains average, with more rain forecast for today, Friday and Saturday.