It seems we always welcome rain as Aussie grain farmers - except for those times we don’t. And those of you not involved in agriculture can sometimes get very confused as to when rain is good and when it is not. So, this is a very simple guide to help you out to save asking or getting it wrong.

If we have a 20-30mm Rainfall event in:

January - March: Welcomed and cursed. Great for stored moisture and profits of chemical companies. Kills family time.

April: Celebrated wildly if occurs around ANZAC Day.

May: Dancing in the paddocks rain event. Causes ABC radio to push farmers to publicly state that this could be their best year ever. Enables a public proclamation of the ‘break’.

June: Yeah – we’ll take it. It’s June. If an okay April/May, not too fussed as its cold and the crops aren’t growing much.

July: Welcomed - as long as it’s already not too wet, then some nervousness the crops aren’t sending their roots down in prep for a dry spring. If you come to visit expect to get your car dirty on the muddy driveway.

August: Critical. Nervousness as weather warming up and frosts a risk. Caution: a good Aug rainfall event can lull non farmers into thinking the season cannot go wrong from here. They would be wrong.

September: Season defining. A second follow up event even better. Lots of enjoyable crop crawls. Media forgets us as there are no more drought and dust photos. Can allow farmers minds to drift to the possibility a positive season finish.

If we have a 10-30mm Rainfall event in:

First week October: Welcomed as will benefit most crops. Hay guys grumpy.

Second week October: May be welcomed, depending on what happened in week one. Hay guys still grumpy.

Third week October: Tolerated, as unlikely to do crop damage.

Fourth week October: Tolerated, depending on rainfall week three. Creates harvest nerves.

First-second week November: Frustrating, as just delaying start of harvest.

Third-fourth week November: If no rainfall in week one or two - gives opportunity to stop and fix stuff not picked up pre-season, or broken in harvest week one-two.

Major harvest rainfall events:

One: Okay

Two: Tolerable if conditions are good (sunshine / wind) immediately following.

Three: Frustrating, with risk of downgrades and crop damage. Glass half full farmers will speak of stored moisture for following year.

Four or more: Completely over it. Harvesters in shed by Christmas unlikely. Don’t talk to us.

Summary: There is no such thing as bad weather, just poor timing, different perspectives and bad choice of clothing.