A SENIOR Riverland agricultural industry figure is among countless South Australian farmers hoping for some decent rainfall to arrive.
Farmers across South Australia have been struggling with drought conditions since the beginning of 2025, with record-low rainfall figures in numerous areas of the state.
Grain Producers SA (GPSA) chair, and Alawoona-based grain farmer, John Gladigau said the current drought had added to cumulative pressure from low rainfall across the past decade.
“The Northern Mallee region had a significant period of drought from 2017-19, from which most producers are still recovering,” Mr Gladigau said.
“An above-average 2022 season was the bright spot in the past 10 years, but has been tempered by two poor years since, with no real opportunity for farmers to get back on their feet.
“The Northern Mallee can be a tough farming environment, but local farmers have adapted to be seen as some of the best in the world in a low-rainfall environment.
“Over the past 50 years there have been rolling periods of both fantastic and poor seasons, but the last 10 years has certainly been a time when cumulative droughts and frost have been disheartening.”
In the time from 1 January until 2 May, Alawoona had received 22.1mm of rainfall, compared to 44.2mm for the same time period in 2024.
The long-term average for Alawoona’s rainfall between 1 January and 2 May is 86.9mm.
Mr Gladigau said challenges posed by drought conditions had forced the area’s farmers to maximise their growing efficiency.
“Through adversity many new environmentally sustainable farming practices have come to the fore such as no-till, soil amelioration and targeted use of impacts with precision seeding and spraying,” he said.
“This has resulted in quite incredible production from limited rainfall and tight margins.”
Mr Gladigau said the low rainfall, combined with high input costs and pressure from financiers, increased the risks for farmers to plant a new crop in 2025.
“The recent annual (GPSA) survey identified input costs of fertiliser, chemical and fuel as being their biggest issues as they move into the new season,” he said.
“Coming off a drought year and with very little subsoil moisture, farmers are very nervous about expending huge amounts of money planting the new crop without the security of moisture in the bank.
“The other financial pressures are related to higher interest rates and the timeframes financiers are taking to assess the needs of farmers, and their willingness to extend finance off the back of a couple of poor seasons.”
Mr Gladigau said industry bodies would continue working with the State Government to ensure farmers are supported through drought challenges.
“(GPSA) have worked closely with the state government in proposing options to assist farmers,” he said.
“We are pleased that a lot of the suggestions we put forward were included in the recent drought package, but we are concerned that the eligibility criteria may mean some farmers who need assistance the most may slip through the gaps, and the timeframes for delivery will just frustrate people.
“We will continue to keep working with the Minister (for Primary Industries Clare Scriven) and State Government, to ensure the assistance reaches where it is most needed.”