Riverland farmers rejoice as record-breaking harvest brings relief from drought
A record-breaking harvest is on the cards for South Australian farmers, bringing relief to families who have struggled through years of drought. Above-average rainfall has transformed the Riverland region, with crops thriving and community spirits high.
For farming families in South Australia's Riverland region, the past year has brought a welcome change in fortunes. After years of drought, above-average rainfall has set the stage for a record-breaking harvest.
Kiara Fisher, who farms at Bugle Hut with her husband Chester, says their cropping paddocks are thriving. "Where we sit now, this was entirely dirt and this year my husband's had to slash it three times already," she said. "There were crops out there last year, but they'd be lucky to be grazing the tops of your ankles … [but] this year my three-year-old daughter … you can barely see her in them."
The bumper crop is expected to help the Fisher family pay off bills accumulated during the drought years. Ms Fisher said off-farm work and government assistance had helped them stay afloat, but it was a relief to be able to farm profitably again. "It'll be really nice just to wipe our slates clean and know that for the first time in a few years we've farmed for something," she said.
Nearby, Louise Smith has received over 350mm of rain this year, more than double her total for last year. She says the improved conditions have lifted community spirits and she's hopeful of turning a profit for the first time in seven years. "You drive into town, there's actually people, they stop and chat. There's happy smiles and it's not everyone thinking, 'Where do we go next?'" she said.
Grain Producers South Australia chief executive Brad Perry says the harvest is expected to break records, with tonnages likely to eclipse 13 million tonnes. However, he noted that frost events and disease pressure had affected crops in some regions.
Despite the positive outlook, farmers are not without their challenges. Ms Fisher mentioned low grain prices, locust threats, and skyrocketing input costs, including a $200,000 hit to their budget from diesel prices. "We're going to have to sell most of our saleable grain that we're not holding onto to for feed just to pay the bills from the last three years," she said.
Louise Smith reflected on the tough decisions made during the drought, including holding onto starving stock. "I think looking back now, 12 months on, we made all the right decisions we could have made back then to get us to the best position we could to get into this season," she said.