South Australian farmers have grappled with a series of uncontrollable weather conditions that have created one of the most challenging seasons on record.
Low rainfall, drought and spells of frost have been felt in every corner of the state, with some regions such as the Mid North experiencing their driest conditions in more than a century.
As harvest wraps up for the year, the true damage of this season’s weather has become clear to growers on the ground.
While other states deliver bumper crops, SA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is projecting grain harvests to be the worst in more than a decade.
And after record years at record prices, grain yields could fall by more than 40 per cent when compared to the five-year average.
Yields are down in every region in South Australia. (ABC South East SA: Elsie Adamo)
Frost spells disaster for grain
Farmer and agronomist Lou Flohr watched as temperatures plummeted to minus 5 degrees Celsius at her Lameroo property in late spring, decimating her crop overnight.
She said the spell of frost impacted about 80 per cent of her operation in the Murray Mallee region, forcing her to cut her losses and use what was left for hay.
Lameroo farmer Lou Flohr says more than 80 per cent of her crop was affected by frost. (ABC News: Carl Saville)
“We delivered 200 tonnes to the silo system, but last year we delivered 5,000, so that’s an indication of the productivity we’ve had this year,” Ms Flohr said.
The Mallee region that Ms Flohr farms in is already a low rainfall area, and growers were expecting a below-average year as drought conditions began to set in.
“But the frost certainly dampened it even further and made us pivot a lot with how we ended up finishing the season,” she said.
Some regions across the state have seen the driest conditions since the 1900s. (ABC News: Carl Saville)
As the impact of the dry season became visible, the state government announced an $18 million drought assistance package in late November.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said after record seasons, it was unfortunate to see that turn sour amid unusual weather conditions.
“We are now seeing drought conditions in South Australia that haven’t been endured for some time,” he said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas announced an $18 million drought support package in November. (ABC News: Briana Fiore)
Ms Flohr said while farmers were grateful for the relief, the $5,000 grants for drought infrastructure were too small to buy anything more meaningful than a water tank.
“It’s millions of dollars to keep the lights on at a farm, so a $5,000 grant doesn’t get you too far,” she said.
But despite all the tribulations facing farmers in the region, Ms Flohr is still excited about the future of farming in the Mallee as they turn their efforts towards recovery.
“It will take two years or more to recover from this drought,” she said.
“But it’s definitely worth it. Small communities are great, and you’ve got to be resilient.”
Lou Flohr says the farming community always rallies around when times are tough. (ABC News: Carl Saville)
Livestock farmers feel effects of feed shortage
In the Mid North, fifth-generation livestock farmer Alison Henderson had to sell many of her sheep amid some of the driest conditions since the 1900s.
“We have reduced numbers by about 40 per cent … through spring,” she said.
Alison Henderson runs Hendowie Poll Merino Stud at Caltowie. (ABC North and West SA: Arj Ganesan)
Ms Henderson usually grows feed herself at her family’s Caltowie property, but this year they were unable to reap any barley or make hay themselves.
They have relied on their neighbours and deliveries from interstate to get their remaining sheep through the season.
“This is the worst that Dad can remember, and even Grandpa. [It’s] definitely the worst in my short farming career,” she said.
“As sheep farmers we do the best for our animals and really want to, but when you’re working with the weather and it doesn’t play ball, it’s really hard.”
Caltowie has received half its average rainfall, resulting in farmers needing to hand-feed sheep. (ABC North and West SA: Arj Ganesan)
Ms Henderson is now looking at the possibility of further reducing her stock, amid current strong prices for Australian lamb and a need to conserve feed until the season breaks.
“The ideal scenario would be for an early break of the season in April to kick away a good season,” she said.
“While there’s still a bit of stubble feed around, we’re doing alright, but give it sort of February, March, April next year, it will be crunch time.”
Deceiving ‘green drought’ hurting budgets
In the usually reliable rainfall region of the South East, this year’s extraordinary conditions have caused a green drought.
Many cattle in the region have needed bought fodder to get them in condition to sell. (ABC South East SA: Elsie Adamo)
While crops in the region appear green and luscious to the eye, the soil has often been too dry to be useful, meaning crops grow slowly or not at all.
Delta Agri Business agronomist Scott Hutchings said the conditions had made for a “very challenging year” and farmers would just be breaking even.
“[There wasn’t] enough rain early when the ground was warm for those plants to bulk up and get feed before winter kicked in,” he said.
Agronomist Scott Hutchings says it has been one of his busiest seasons advising farmers. (ABC South East SA: Elsie Adamo)
Keith-based farmer Glen Simpson said the season had wrapped up stronger than he anticipated, but the fallout of high costs and lower yields would spill into the next season.
“After Christmas, reality sets in,” Mr Simpson said.
“We’ve had a look over the budget already, we know things will be tight enough over the next 12 to 18 months.
“The next income stream is not until November next year for cropping.”
Glen Simpson had a tough season despite farming in a region that usually has reliable rainfall. (ABC News)
Modern farming practices soften the blow
Improvements in farming practices have been praised for saving grain harvests from total wipeout.
In its most recent crop report, PIRSA indicated that if these conditions had been seen 20 years ago, it would have likely been a different outcome.
The most recent year with comparable rainfall across the state was 2006, where less than 3 million tonnes was harvested.
PIRSA industry partnerships and intelligence manager Matthew Palmer said an extra 2 million tonnes should be salvaged this year in comparison to 2006.
“It’s a really remarkable change in less than 20 years,” he said.
About 2 million more tonnes of grain are expected this harvest compared to similar conditions in 2006. (ABC South East SA: Elsie Adamo)
On the Eyre Peninsula, many agree the outcome could have been a lot worse, with patches in the east of the region still recovering from previous years of drought.
Cowell-based farmer Brenton Smith agreed modern farming practices had “saved some of the yields”, but he knows he cannot influence the weather.
“I don’t know that there’s much else that you can do apart from set it up to be the best possible outcome if you do get rain,” he said.
Cowell farmer Brenton Smith says the financial and emotional toll of the season is visible in the community. (ABC News: Jodie Hamilton)
Mr Smith said the emotional and financial toll of a challenging few years was visible among the farming community.
“There’s a fair bit of hurt, so people are definitely feeling it, and we’re trying to get around everyone and get on with it,” he said.
“But the next six or eight months is going to be really tough.”
