Summary of key issues:
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During the week ending 19 August 2015, rainfall in excess of 25 millimetres was recorded in south west Western Australia, parts of southern Victoria and western Tasmania.
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Maximum and minimum temperatures were predominantly below average to average over much of central and eastern Australia during the week ending 18 August 2015.
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The 2015 El Niño in the tropical Pacific has continued to strengthen over the past fortnight.
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Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) increased during the week ending 20 August 2015 by 64 gigalitres.
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In New South Wales, high security allocations increased in the Murray Valley.
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In Victoria, high reliability allocations increased in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon Valleys.
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The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average price of anhydrous milk fat increased by 21 per cent to US$2 724 a tonne on 18 August 2015.
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The young cattle indictor price (330–400 kg live weight C3) averaged 526 cents a kilogram in Queensland in the week ending 14 August 2015.
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The lamb indicator price (18–22kg fat score 2–4) averaged 591 cents a kilogram (dressed weight) in Victoria in the week ending 14 August 2015.
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The world wheat indicator price (US No. 2 hard red winter, free on board Gulf ports) averaged US$217 a tonne in the week ending 18 August 2015.