August 2026 Farmers Almanac

Climate, garden and farm outlook for the Dayboro valley

Updated 1 Sep 2026

2026 ENSO Update: El Niño is no longer just a model forecast. The June 2026 Nino3.4 reading came in at +0.98°C, past the El Niño threshold, and the models had it at 80% to hold through winter. The Inigo Jones cycle read, Bruckner year 20 (dry phase) and Jupiter year 7 (declining wet), points the same way: near normal to below normal rainfall. Under El Niño, eastern Australia usually runs drier and warmer through spring and summer, so plan water and feed with that in mind.

Climate Overview

Zone	Max	Min	Rainfall	Conditions
Dayboro (subtropical)	22-24°C	10-13°C	30-45mm	Spring approaching. Mild, dry. Last frost possible early month.

Last Year's Numbers (August 2025, Dayboro)

No forecast here, just what the Dayboro station actually recorded in August 2025. Handy as a reality check on what this month usually serves up.

Metric	Station recorded
Rainfall total	20.6mm
Wet days (1mm or more)	5
Average daily max	23.3°C
Average daily min	7.5°C
Hottest day	28.3°C
Coldest night	3.4°C
Frost nights (min 2°C or below)	0

Dayboro station daily summaries over 31 days, rainfall as the calendar month total. These numbers are local to Dayboro, the zone table above covers the wider growing zones.

How Did We Do in August?

Once a month is done we grade the almanac against what the Dayboro weather station actually recorded. The numbers below are straight from the station, no fudging.

Metric	We said	Station recorded	Verdict
Rainfall total	30-45mm	25.2mm	Below range
Average daily max	22-24°C	24.9°C	Above range
Average daily min	10-13°C	7.8°C	Below range
Hottest day	not forecast	27.8°C	Recorded
Coldest night	not forecast	4.0°C	Recorded
Wet days (1mm or more)	not forecast	6	Recorded
Frost nights (min 2°C or below)	not forecast	0	Recorded

0 of 3 forecast metrics landed inside the promised range for August.

Forecast figures are the Subtropical zone row above. Recorded figures are Dayboro station daily summaries over 31 days, rainfall as the calendar-month total.

Astronomical Events

Gann Date: August 8 is a Gann seasonal date. Watch for potential trend shifts in markets around this time.

Perseids Meteor Shower, August 12: The Perseids are one of the best meteor showers globally, producing up to 100 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, Australia isn't ideally placed for viewing, the radiant is low on our northern horizon. You might catch some in the hours before dawn, but don't expect the spectacular show seen in the northern hemisphere.

Moon Phases

🌗

Last Quarter

Aug 6

🌑

New Moon

Aug 13

🌓

First Quarter

Aug 20

🌕

Full Moon

Aug 28

Sunrise / Sunset

Days are lengthening noticeably as we head toward spring. Here's the welcome change across the month:

City	1st	Last	Daylight change
Brisbane (AEST)	6:26am - 5:21pm (10h 55m)	6:00am - 5:38pm (11h 38m)	+43 min
Sydney (AEST)	6:44am - 5:12pm (10h 28m)	6:13am - 5:33pm (11h 20m)	+52 min
Melbourne (AEST)	7:17am - 5:31pm (10h 14m)	6:41am - 5:55pm (11h 14m)	+60 min
Perth (AWST)	7:02am - 5:42pm (10h 40m)	6:30am - 6:01pm (11h 31m)	+51 min

Trend: days getting longer. Brisbane picks up 43 minutes across the month and Dayboro tracks right with it.

Planting Guide

This is one of the busiest planting months. Spring crops need to go in, but frost risk isn't completely over. Time your plantings on your local frost dates.

Dayboro valley

Plant Now

Potatoes, prime planting month
Peas, broad beans, lettuce, Asian greens
Spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, carrots
Seedlings indoors: tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
Herbs, parsley, coriander
Spring onions

Harvest

Last citrus
Brassicas finishing
Root vegetables
Leeks, spring onions
Winter greens

Livestock Guide

Birth season kicks off properly. Busy weeks ahead, plan for early mornings and check rounds.

Cattle

Before calving management
Nutrition critical
Calving paddocks ready
Monitor closely

Sheep & Goats

Lambing/kidding begins
Close monitoring essential
Shelter ready
Colostrum supplies on hand

Poultry

Production improving
Natural daylight increasing
Reduce supplemental lighting
Order chicks for spring

Bees

Spring preparation
Check queens
Add supers if needed
Early spring flow possible

Self-Sufficiency Focus

The Late Winter Gap

This is traditionally the "hungry gap", winter crops are finishing, spring crops aren't ready yet. Prices at markets reflect this. If you've preserved well through summer and autumn, now's when it pays off. If not, remember this feeling for next year's planning.

Energy Outlook

Heating needs are declining but not gone. Solar output is improving noticeably. By late August, you should be generating more than early winter. This is a good time to service your solar system before the high production months.

Priority planting Potatoes, spring crops

Seedling focus Tomatoes, capsicum indoors

Check irrigation Systems ready for spring

Key Takeaways

Potato month: Prime planting time in frost free areas
Full Moon: August 28, note: a partial lunar eclipse occurs on this date but is not visible from Australia (Americas, Europe, Africa only)
Lambing begins: Intensive livestock management period
Seedlings indoors: Continue tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
Hungry gap: Food prices rising, between seasons
Spring approaching: Wattle blooming, days lengthening

Methodology: Climate data from Bureau of Meteorology 30 year averages (1991-2020). Astronomical calculations using Skyfield with NASA JPL DE421 ephemeris. ENSO status: El Niño threshold passed June 2026 (Nino3.4 +0.98°C). Inigo Jones cycle position: Bruckner year 20 (dry phase), Jupiter year 7 (declining wet). Rainfall near BOM averages with modest drying adjustment for eastern Australia.

Dayboro Farmers Almanac