TODAY’S rainfalls across the New England electorate won’t rain grass but it will be a great start to ease some of the worries felt by landholders across the New England and North West, Federal MP Barnaby Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said by mid-morning on Monday, recordings of 42mm at Mullaley in the south-west of the New England electorate, to Barraba with 38mm, Barry near Nundle with 32mm to Sandy Hill north-east of Tenterfield with 14mm, indicated how widespread the falls were.

“In the Upper Horton, 18mm on top of recent good falls will ensure a great start to the winter,” Mr Joyce said.

“At Glen Innes there had been 18mm while Bolivia had 22mm by morning tea time,” he said.

“Willow Glen near Guyra had 48mm which was one of the stand-out recordings for the Monday.

“Bundella and Blackville on the Liverpool Plains in the south-west of the electorate had more than half an inch of steady rain which will help set-up the potential for a good winter cereal planting.”

Mr Joyce said the portents for more good rain later in the week were promising with Eldersweather predicting an 80 per cent chance of 10 to 20mm on Tuesday with a 90 per cent chance of a further 10mm to 20mm on Thursday.

He said the Weather Channel’s prediction this rainfall event could make the season, was the best news possible for farmers and residents right across the New England electorate and indeed across the state.