Many agree that yields will at least be equal to those of last year, so if we must have a drought, this is a little heartening taken together with the higher prices. As harvest starts in the next week or two across the district, it is hoped that farmers reap at least as much as expected. The season will be all over after a quick harvest and then time to recuperate before planning to make the most of next year.

Although wanting to forget the disappointments of the year, the lessons are still there to be learnt. One is how stock and ground-cover management over the last summer set the season up to be ready to go as soon as it rained. Excess stock were quit early, while those kept were contained on small areas soon after grazing stubbles and hand fed.

A comment from one farmer I encountered in a group meeting discussing drought decision making was that timely decisions are really important. He said “His worst decision was to hang on to sheep and he now realised how much they had cost to keep alive and now he has no cover on paddocks and sheep not worth much”.

If we are not to see problems with over grazing this year where it is considered too expensive to contain stock on small areas and hand feed them, then decisions need to be made soon as to the best course of action. These and many of the other decisions having to be made on farms at the moment are big and hard to make.

Many find it not too hard to consult an accountant or maybe a lawyer if need be, but much harder to discuss with anyone outside of the business other issues, especially if of a “people” nature. There are many services that are well aware of this feeling who are keen to listen and provide a sounding board if asked. One example which is commonly used by those who need someone to listen, or are concerned, as well as in deeper trouble, is the Rural Financial Counsellor in each district.

Too often the people who most want to listen and are of greatest value to the business are the others involved in the business, either directly or indirectly. Meeting to discuss and share issues on a regular basis cannot be recommended strongly enough. Those who are able in these meetings to best share their feelings and to explore those of the others through questioning are likely to find them most beneficial. Often the hardest part is getting to suggest that the first meeting should be held.

AUTHOR:  Tom Yeatman, Senior Sustainable Agriculture Systems Consultant, Rural Solutions SA.

CONTACT: Tom Yeatman, Rural Solutions SA Clare Office, Telephone 8842 6224, Mobile 0419 831 027, email yeatman.tom@saugov.sa.gov.au