The previous best recording for July was 1995 when 90 millimetres fell and before that, 1978 when 77.7 millimetres fell.

Merredin experienced 15 rain days during July, the last seven during the last eight days of the month.

The total rainfall recorded at Merredin for the year so far has been 173.2 millimetres, compared to 174.4 in 1996 and 284.2 in 1995.

In that year, February and March experienced 83 millimetres.

Merredin farmer Andrew Crook said he was happy with the rain although some crops still looked thin and ugly.

“The potential for an average or just below average harvest is still there but we are still in the game,” he said.

“Many of the later crops were looking good and the earlier ones are predictably ugly.

“The rainfall did little for our dam water situation, but I do not think anyone is complaining, it was a good soaking rain.”

South Burracoppin farmer Rohan Day said their early crops were getting better and the later ones were looking good.

“There has been a lot of weeds germinate, mainly in the later crops in the past couple of weeks,” he said.

“With the warm weather and no frosts, everything is starting to look great.

“Run off in to dams has been minimal, but our dams are about 25 percent full, so that is good.”

Both farmers said they had never seen so many mushrooms as they checked crops and sprayed paddocks.

A Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia Merredin report said some of its advisory district had received 25 millimetres and other parts had received more than 50 millimetres during the past two weeks.

Bullfinch even received 20 percent of its annual rainfall last week.

“In many parts of the district rainfall has exceeded the July average,” the report said.

“This has inspired confidence but we must remember that last year we also had a dry May and June, an average July and then a dry August.

“In other words we still have a long way to go, but this rain will maintain yield potential, although late sown and late germinating crops will be behind schedule and cannot be expected to catch up.”

The rainfall outlook for the remainder of the season remains unclear at this point.

Around the district

Bencubbin 76.6

Corrigin 69.0

Cunderdin 76.4

Kellerberrin 88.0

Merredin 73.3

Narembeen 93.6

Southern Cross 76.8