Drought: Dry end to winter derails SA crop hopes

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

A dry end to winter and a run of hot, northerly winds in recent weeks threatens to totally derail the cropping season for producers across western and upper Eyre Peninsula, SA.
Wheat and barley crops, which make up the majority of the region's overall harvest, are now in need of urgent falls before the end of spring if yields are going to be any better than the disappointing 2006 harvest.

Around Kimba, farmers are still hopeful of a worthwhile spring and summer reap, but further north to semi-marginal areas around Buckleboo, many crops will not be harvested, with cereal paddocks across the district now offering little more than grazing feed for stock.

Peas, which have also been adversely affected, with a run of frosts reducing predicted yields.

However, many farmers' burdens will be eased with valuable cash flow secured from the spring and summer turn off of prime lambs.

While throughout the 1990s many producers moved towards continuous cropping, the value of retaining a mixed farm enterprise incorporating wool or prime lambs is becoming increasing in light of the prevailing dry conditions.

SOURCE: Stock Journal, SA's weekly rural newspaper, posting news updates daily on FarmOnline.