Rainfall has been welcomed across the Western Plains, but none so appreciative as the Walgett shire, where an out of control bushfire burned over 22 thousand hectares before being controlled. 

After over a week of fighting fires that brought crews and planes from across the state, the Hudson Fire was contained on Sunday 19 November. 

While the local weather station measured 26mm, some properties around Walgett reported rainfalls up to 200mm. 

The rain is a welcome change not only to the fireground, but to locals who have endured prolonged dry conditions, like much of the region. 

“There’s been some extraordinary falls in an isolated patch between Lightning Ridge and Walgett,” said local stock and station agent Russell Hiscox.

Mr Hiscox said that with more rain expected over the coming week, the livestock market might finally take a turn. 

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, more rain is expected to fall north of Brewarrina. (BOM)

“People will stop selling. I bought my first mob of sheep in two months just a minute ago,” Mr Hiscox said. 

“They’ll stop trading because of feed…we’re starting to pretty rapidly turn the corner and buy instead of sell.”

While there’s relief and even some optimism for livestock producers who have seen dire markets for months on end, Mr Hiscox said more rainfall is necessary for people in cropping. 

“In the shop today, we’re sort of back and operating again whereas things had ground to a halt.”

According to Meat and Livestock Australia, the daily indicator for sheep sales is trending upwards after slowly falling from March this year, and falling to its lowest point in September.