Below average rainfall has been recorded in Bathurst for the last three months, with last month the driest.

NSW Farmers’ Bathurst branch president Ian Hendry said while it is not looking as dire as this time last year, the region’s farmers could do with extra rain.

“A lot of farmers are saying it’s getting very dry,” he said. 

“It’s looking like a dry spring, unfortunately. 

“We’re hoping for some rain to come through, a lot of dams are looking very dry.”

Just 25mms of rain was recorded in Bathurst last month, less than half of the long-term average of 47mms.

More rain fell in August, 32mms, but it still fell short of an average 49mms, while 29mms fell in July, again short of the average 48.5mms.

“It doesn’t look very good for summer, we might be getting this El Nino they’re talking about with drier weather,” Mr Hendry said.

While stock numbers remain high across the district, he said they are not as high as this time last year.

“People haven’t rebuilt their herds ... a lot of people have moved a little, but still not what they were up to [in stock numbers],” he said.

Recent windy weather has added to the weather woes, with what soil moisture there is now beginning to dry out.

“Now that the ground’s warming up and the wind is here it’s drying things out ... we just need the spring rain,” Mr Hendry said.

No rainfall is predicted for Bathurst over the coming week, according to Weatherzone, with temperatures set to remain warm.

Today should reach a top of 19 degrees, with temperatures predicted to continue to rise. Tomorrow is forecast to reach 22 degrees, Saturday 24  and Sunday 27.

Weatherzone has predicted Monday will reach a very warm top of 28 degrees, 8.1 degrees above the long-term October average of 19.9.