Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Another dry winter in Perth

Updated at 1:56 pm on 31 August 2010

Perth in Western Australia is having its second driest winter on record.

The Bureau of Meteorology says just over 256mm of rain fell during the three months of winter.

The ABC reports the average is 480mm. The driest winter on record was in 2006 when there was 230.4mm.

WA Farmers Federation president Mike Norton says the low rainfall has been devastating for the state's grain crops. He says many farmers are desperate.

Earlier this month, the WA Grain Industry Association significantly revised downward its predictions for this year's harvest.

The association's crop report for August reveals estimates for wheat production have dropped 19% since the last quarter with total production tipped to be at 5.5 million tonnes.

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