MOTHER nature has delivered a mixed bag for pastoralists in the Kimberley throughout the 2013/14 wet season.
While some pastoralists deal with flash flooding and excessive rainfall, others are grateful for consistent steady falls.
Peter Camp, Kalyeeda station, said he had received reasonable falls on his property located south of Fitzroy Crossing but had missed out on the extreme rainfall events experienced in the coastal areas such as north of Broome.
Mr Camp said it had been dry in central areas around Fitzroy Crossing throughout the Christmas period and into January.
"That changed with good falls when that low moved down the WA-Northern Territory border," he said.
"There were substantial falls in the Halls Creek area and the east and west Kimberley got a good drink when Cyclone Christine went through.
"We are getting reasonable rainfall but certainly not the totals received in the coastal areas."
As Farm Weekly went to print on Tuesday, Mr Camp said Country Downs had received 240 millimetres in 24 hours, while Derby and Liveringa stations had received falls in excess of 100mm.
Mr Camp said stations located south of Broome were having a terrific season, particularly in the La Grange area, including Nita Downs and Anna Plains.
He said Kalyeeda had received 240mm out of a 450mm average so far this season.
"It certainly is a good rain, it is soaking in and the Fitzroy River has been reasonably high but not anywhere near record levels."
With discussions around a potential increase in Indonesian cattle import quotas, Mr Camp said markets were looking promising for 2014 and it would be nice to have a good season to back it.
For Kirsty Forshaw, Nita Downs station, the steady regular rainfall had meant a fantastic start to the season.
"There has been a couple of inches of steady rain," she said.
Ms Forshaw estimated Nita Downs had received between 300-400mm in the gauge in the past month and hoped to see more through to April.
"We want more rain until then to last us through this season to the end of the year."
Ms Forshaw said Nita Downs received about 70mm overnight Monday and expected further rainfall during this week.
"For us it's about selling weight so if the grass is there the cattle put the weight on," she said.
"We might have more chance of being able to sell the stock we need to sell this year."
Ms Forshaw said the good rainfall lined up with positive live export price signals out of Indonesia.
"You might be lucky to get one or the other, but to have good rain and good prices is the ultimate goal," she said.
"They are talking decent prices over the $2kg mark.
"That could end up being double what we received last year so we might be able to start paying off a bit of debt."
