Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
SOUTH East farmers are banking on rainfall this week to counter dry conditions which have plagued agricultural land across the district.
The Anzac Day period traditionally ushers in the autumn rainfall break with many farming enterprises planning around this annual cycle.
Elders Mount Gambier agronomist Bridie Tierney said while the dry conditions were “nothing out of the ordinary”, land owners were hoping for rain sooner rather than later.
“It is ideal conditions at the moment so if we get an inch of rain now it would be magic and would completely change the landscape overnight,” she said.
“While we have day length and good weather, soil temperatures are up which is great for a seed germinating.
“When we starting heading into June when our days become shorter, less day light results in colder soil temperatures and it is really hard to get feed going.”
Ms Tierney said one factor as to why some farmers considered 2019 a “bad year” so far was the lack of a traditional summer downpour.
“Usually we would see a thunderstorm or rain event over the summer which we have not had this year,” she said.
“It is certainly not considered a break but would drop an inch for our dry feed to progress.
“We were still able get quite efficient grain cuts to graze the paddocks again after they were cut.”
Elders livestock manager David Creek said the South East was “prime agricultural area” with ideal conditions for livestock and crop farming.
“We have water underneath us, reliable rainfall and I go as far as saying we will always get a rainfall break,” he said.
“We are still bringing in a lot of stock from other rural areas because it is such a reliable area.
“The traditional dry summer has been good for us eliminating factors like worm burden which was quite fatal last spring for livestock.”
Mr Creek said the company received numerous phone calls from parts of Australia requesting land to store livestock due to tough conditions.
“The other day I had some calves come in from Gippsland which is a reliable area,” he said.
“Farmers were ringing us during the summer months asking if there was any spare paddock space because they just want to save their good breeders.
“With the little gap before we know where we are going it is like going to the races with a pocket full of money.”
Ms Tierney said although rain was predicted to fall soon, people have already started planting seeds now with no guarantee.
“We have had people put seed in the ground already making the call to spend the money and wait for rain,” she said.
“We are all looking for rain and are listening to the forecast every day, but at the moment we are all just waiting.”
