Locals are hopeful the moist air will generate more rain during the next three months.

AgForce Cattle director Rick Britton says the rain started on New Year’s Eve.

There have been good falls north of Boulia, all the way up to the watershed south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

“There will be a very handy flood in the head of the Channel Country with the Burke, Hamilton and Georgina Rivers all having good runs,” Mr Britton said.

“Even though it seems there’s a glass barrier at the Tropic of Capricorn with only patchy falls to the south of Boulia, at least those in the heart of the Channel Country know there is a big flood coming.

“The rain has lifted everyone’s spirits and talking to people you can tell a weight has been lifted off their shoulders coming into the New Year – you’d think they’d won the $30 million lottery.

“The feeling around is that this early moisture burst means the rain is likely to be around until the end of March so hopefully there will be more falls on the way.

“But there won’t be any cash flow while producers rebuild breeder numbers from the core mobs that are left in the region, and for the next three years things will be pretty tight.”

Mr Britton’s Goodwood Station has only received 46mm in the past five days, but this is more than what was recorded during the entire 2008 year.

Boulia Shire normally carries about 184,000 head of cattle but that has been as low as 10,000 head, with some AgForce members being totally destocked or carrying 20-40 percent of breeder capacity.

Zanda McDonald from Devoncourt Station north of Boulia says general rain has fallen over their properties, with 225 mm south of Cloncurry, 125 mm north of Julia Creek, 500 mm on the Peninsular places.

But south of Winton is still dry.

“This general rain has meant a better start than any during the past 10 years but we need follow-up before we can talk about the drought breaking,” Mr McDonald said.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better start to 2009 because the rain did not cause any significant dam or fence damage.”

Annie Clark from Brinawa at Burketown has had 300mm.

She says this widespread, good soaking rain has provided the best start for 3-4 years.