LAST week's rainfall from remnants of Cyclone Iggy produced variable results throughout the WA Wheatbelt.
But thunderstorm activity since last October has left a sizeable area with good subsoil moisture triggering a flurry of summer spraying programs as farmers move to maintain the moisture for autumn seeding.
A decent weather front in the next two months will see either moisture joining up or a confident start to dry sowing, especially in southern and south coastal districts.
The scenario is more variable in the northern, central and eastern Wheatbelt districts.
For Binnu farmer Jeremy Brooks, residual subsoil moisture from a 525mm rainfall total last year, is providing some positivity.
"We got 20mm last week in three events which followed a 40mm event in January and we've got good subsoil moisture from last year, especially in the fallow paddocks," he said.
"So it's a good start to the year."
Rod Messina, Mullewa, rued last week's cyclone activity which failed to deliver meaningful rain.
"There has been nothing substantial up here since October," he said.
"We got between 25mm and 47mm on a couple of blocks in January and we're on top of spraying so paddocks are fairly clean.
"But we've got no subsoil moisture and I think it's the same for properties east of us."
At Canna, Richard Sasse remained positive on the back of thunderstorm activity.
"It's always a good sign," he said.
"We got between 50mm and 60mm of rain during harvest which caused us some problems but we'll take moisture any time.
"We're keeping an eye on spraying where we need to to and generally things are shaping up okay for the season.
"We just want a spike in wheat prices."
Bonnie Rock farmer Scott Watson already has completed his summer spraying program and is watchful for any regrowth.
"We copped 100mm during harvest and the melons and grasses were prolific to the stage where we had to lift the header comb to clear the melons.
"We were spraying behind the header to keep on top of germinations and now we'll just keep a good eye on paddocks.
"Subsoil moisture is down about a foot so if we get any more moisture it won't be a problem to join up."
West of Scott at Beacon, Stuart Faulkner had completed 90 per cent of his spraying on paddocks earmarked for crop this year.
"We've also done some pastures and some offset work to stimulate germinations," he said.
"We'll have some residual moisture from last year because we recorded 80mm in December and 30mm in November.
"And thunderstorms two weeks ago dumped 45mm on the northern end of the farm.
"So there's a lot more optimism about getting a result this year."
Carnamah farmer Roger Dring agreed, despite only showery activity last week.
"We missed out but some guys got good falls," he said.
"We do have some subsoil from last year, particularly from rain during harvest so we're in a positive mood, despite the variability."
According to Cadoux farmer Michael Kalajzic, subsoil moisture through the district remains variable.
"We only got eight mills from last week's weather but thunderstorm activity since December has put a bit of moisture in the ground," he said.
"Generally the subsoil moisture throughout the district is variable and marginal, being close to the surface.
"But it has been enough for germinations which has kept us all busy on the sprayer."
For Bolgart farmer Trevor Syme, a 25mm rain event last week was the first time he had recorded moisture on the property since the middle of last December.
"We got 75mm in October and 30mm in November so we've got some subsoil moisture and I'm now getting organised to do some deep ripping," he said.
"We completed our summer spraying so I'll get into deep ripping now and then probably have to face up to another spraying program."
Spot spraying was on the agenda for Southern Cross farmer Clint Della Bosca this week after completing a summer spray program.
"We got 11mm last week and thunderstorms over the last two months will help the moisture profile," he said.
"I don't think it will take too much for rain to wet up the soil and hopefully we get a good rain event before we start sowing in April."
At Narembeen, a 13mm rain event last week, on the heels of 25mm from the previous week had sparked optimism for Geoff Negri.
"The rain has filled some dams while others are at low levels but we've got some residual subsoil moisture," he said.
"We've done our first spraying program and had to go back on three or four of the paddocks since then but generally we're on top of things and the moisture is a positive.
"The only question mark we've got is on wheat prices."
West Corrigin farmer Wes Baker said summer rain events had prompted a lot of spraying activity throughout the district with some farmers into second programs.
"We got 16mm last week and we considered ourselves lucky because guys south of us didn't get much," he said.
According to Dudinin farmer Rod Duckworth the scenario is a lot more positive than at the same time last year.
"I've never seen it as wet or as green down here," he said.
"The rain during harvest didn't help us much but it did fill the dams so we don't have to cart water and that's a real bonus.
"Guys in the district have recorded between 100mm and 200mm over the last two months so we're all flat out spraying and nobody is taking holidays."
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