A LOXTON farmer says the current mood amongst dryland farmers in the region is more positive than last year.
Loxton dryland farmers kickstarted the season days earlier than expected after substantial rainfall descended across the region last month.
Loxton recorded 39mm of rainfall between April 26 and May 3 according to the Bureau of Meteorology, compared to the same time last year when the region experienced just 0.6mm.
Dryland farmer Paul Kaesler said it had been a complete shift from last season.
“(We are) very happy at the moment,” he said.
“We’ve had last year’s (total) rainfall now already for the year.”
Mr Kaesler said the unexpected rain had not drastically changed this season’s plans, but said he was sowing more vigorously than he previously had been.
“We’re still sowing the same amount, (but) we’re trying to get it in faster that’s all,” he said.
“We’ve basically kept our program as it was, (but) we’re probably just three days faster than we planned.”
Mr Kaesler, who has been farming for about 30 years, said when they did get rain, it was one of the highlights of the job, along with harvest time when there’s lots of yield.
However, he said farmers would need more rain each month to be successful throughout the rest of the season, particularly in the September period when it’s most critical for farmers.
Mr Kaesler said he couldn’t directly pinpoint any challenges that could hinder the upcoming season as each year was unpredictable.
He said he hopes China would not stop local farmers from exporting barley and other grains amid the coronavirus and expected tariffs, and that he would have good yields this year.