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In May 1991 we see the familiar wait for rain to start sowing, while stud owners prepared livestock for Wondonga and Naracoorte. All this against the background of an increasingly tense rural recession, in this week’s Flashback Friday.

Despite concerns over wool prices, KI farmer Robert Ness was committed to staying on the land.

The Johnson family work in the shed of their Mt Boothby Pastoral Co at Tintinara, shearing 4000 ewes.

Sandra and Norm Joppich, Murray Town, with Peter Geelan, AR Rhodes & Co, were at the Adelaide Wool Stores to sell 70 bales of wool, valued at a low 213c/kg-270c/kg.

Paskeville farmer Neville Price started seeding, in the earliest break he can recall, after 50mm of rain in a fortnight.

The dairy industry was buzzing with news of the amalgamation of the South Eastern Dairyfarmers' Association of SA and the SA Dairyfarmers' Association, however it was business as usual for Kevin Kowald, Mt Torrens.

Australian Barley Board member and YP grower Anthony Honner.

KI Rural Crisis Committee chairman Terry Bennett was ready to help KI landholders through the tough times.

Eddie Keough, Old Koomooloo Station, via Burra, achieved his dream of becoming a full time woolgrower.

Mark Vaughan combines city and country life, combining his time at the Metropolitan Fire Service with his farm between Myponga and Yankalilla.

Australian Breeding Management managing director Geof Burnett-Smith said goats can help reduce risk.

Tony Hilder, Willipa Station, said the goat industry was stop-start, hampering his control methods.

Crimping a batch of traditional Cornish pasties, ahead of Kernewek Lowender, were Brian and Stephen Price, Price's Bakery, Kadina.

Apple orchardist Deane Brock, Forest Range, said new varieties, such as Gourmet Fuji, can demand good prices.

Grace Merenda, Virginia, with some Greengold cabbages.

Jack Anzac Tremaine, Parndana, KI, was one of the few remaining on his KI soldier settlement block.

Kyneton woolgrower Garry Graetz checks staple length with Kapunda's Clair Mcmahon, Dalgety Bennetss Farmers GE&GK Beaton, and Stephen Fleming, DBF Port Adelaide, ahead of the sales. 

Garry Earle, Coralinga, Booborowie, was out sowing on his home made 200 horse power four wheel drive articulated tractor.

Murray-Mallee farmers, led by Karoonda grazier Bill Murdoch, line the office of former Agriculture and now Housing Minister Kym Mayes, calling for support.

Lobethal shearer Phil Wilhelm works his way through crutching 2500 sheep at Tunkillo, while debates waged about wool taxes.

Windsor Santa Gertrudis breeder Leanne Ogilvie and son Tom, draws attention to the rural recession with her road side protest.


Mil Lel dairyfarmer David Clayfield won the invention section at the Mt Gambier Field Days with his variable speed vitamin and mineral dispenser.

Robertstown farmer Danny Ross had just enough rain to start disc ploughing. He is still waiting for substantial opening rains to start seeding.

RAHS director Gary Campbell outside the Elders Ram Shed at Wayville, said the society would like to retain the Royal Adelaide Show Merino ram sale on site, as talk began on merging the Elders and Dalgetty Bennetts Farmers sales.

Dale Baker, Furner, sold heifer Just Joey for $7750, at the Australian National Simmental Show and Sale. He is pictured with Margaret Baker, Jan Gray, Clarendon, and Tom Baker.

Glen Trengove holds Broughton Park Enticer 4 after it was sashed by ANZ Naracoorte manager Roger Ford at the Naracoorte Shorthorn sale.

Sarah Huffen, Piccadilly, holds an entry from the Withers family's Belmore stud.

Dairy Vale Young Farmer of the Year finalist Andrew Kuchel is keen to show there is a future for young people in dairying.

Adelaide Flower Market secretary Tony Hepperlin expects SA floriculturalists should receive a boost for Mother's Day.

Property overseer Hendrik Riessen, Keith, and Grizzly's sales manager Norris Winderlich with the newly arrived biggest disc plough in the world, the Boomer.

Three generations of Elliott men, Chic, Edward and Nicky, from Tuckey, EP.

Dennis Weckert, Brinkworth, was hard at work scarifying lucerne ready to sow Machete wheat once the break arrives.

Elders Strathalbyn saleman Malcolm Standley (centre) chats with yardmen Dean and Roger Carman, Mt Barker, during a break in the selling.

Snooks Borrett, Langhorne Creek, preparing to sow peas and barley.

Geoff Meaney, Freeling, was happy to take a minute off cultivating to pose for a pic.

Naomi Auld and her chestnut gelding Barney Hutch tackled the Naracoorte Young Riders Three-Day Event National Championships for the first time.

Wellington farmer Frank Cazzalato said his interest in pigs is providing vital cash flow.

SA Whiteface breeder David Bennett, Yambro, Frances, judged a lineup of bulls at the Wodonga Hereford and Poll Hereford show and sale.

Brian Kemp, West-Lea, Rhynie, was working up this paddock for oats as cold, dry weather, swept the state.

Doug Mitton, Weblyn Herefords, Hope Forrest, holds Home-Vale Oberon.

Tony Campbell, Brecon, Keith, getting down from the cabin of his new John Deere 9000 Series combine harvester which played a big part in his production program this season.

Paskeville farmer Brian Bussenschutt had enough rain to start ripping up his paddocks. He sowed more vetch to diversify his farm income.

Trees for Life president Andy Sutherland said the organisation collected 1.5 million trees during May for planting in rural SA.

1988 International Winemaker of the Year and Rouge Homme manager Greg Clayfield, Coonawarra.

Antonio Barp, Murray Bridge, with a handful of his glasshouse-grown capsicums.

Ross Story of Selection Hill Chicken Farm, Tumby Bay, with a handful of chooks for customer Elaine Cash, Calca. 

Finalists in the YP Shows Association Miss Show Girl quest are Leanne Sobey, Moonta, Joanne Butler, Minlaton, Robyn Faggotter, Minlaton, Shareece Boundy, Kadina, winner Melissa Paterson, Kadina, runner-up Wendy Baker, Kadina, and Beverly Pike, Minlaton.

Scotty Atkinson, Silver Hill Ayrshire Stud, Mortlake, Vic, Joylinda studmaster Colin Davis, Milang, Wal Patullo, Walmar Ayrshire Stud, Katunga, Vic, and John Price, Pricedale Ayrshire Stud, Northland, NZ, at the Joylinda dispersal.

Barry Oats, Sandalwood, in the Murray Mallee, is playing a waiting game as the dry conditions continued.

Andrew Jericho, Barmera, supplies butternut pumpkins to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane markets.

Ian Jackson, Tirita Station, via Broken Hill, shows the devastation to the station feed caused by kangaroos.

John and Ray Miell feed out a big round bale of hay to a herd at Otago, Tintinara.

Peter Taylor, Tanunda puts the finishes touched to vintage in Grant Burge's Hilcott Vineyard, Lyndoch.

Robb Cootes, Lenswood Valley, moved away from the corporate winemaking to set up his own one-mad operation.

Carrying on the Bickford Cordial tradition in SA are managing director David Hepper and national sales manager Chas Barter.

Shaun, Corey and Jeremy Schutz, Eudunda, holding some young pigs bound, eventually, for the Adelaide market.

Paruna farmer Gary Cockshell feeds out hay to Suffolk rams.

Nairne woolclasser Darren Jenkinson in a woolshed near Glendambo.

Agents Trevor Bignell, Strathfield Rural, Kym Endersby, Bushy Martin Agencies, and Borie McLeod, Collett Livestock, at the Mt Compass sale.

Konetta station manager Kingsley Breeding and station hand David Illman, Greenways, marking 300 calves.

Geoff Buick, Arki stud, Bordertown, prepares Arki Koopermurra for the Adelaide Show.

Bremerton manager Ian Tonkin, Langhorne Creek, was rotary hoeing ahead of sowing lucerne for hay.

National Soil Conservation Project research officer Rosy Parsons and Kingston farmer Rob Rishworth in a salt affected paddock.

KI's Gifford Chapman swapped abalone diving for woolgrowing.

Scotch College agricultural students Ellie Beer, Damien Booth and Bill Gunson with their artificially inseminated Merino ewes and lambs.

Mount Bryan farmer Don Griffen said contours have decreased water erosion, improved soil condition and increased productivity on his property.

Solora's David Logos was one in the industry forced to fork out huge amounts to meet the cost of the first fruit fly outbreak in the Riverland.

Metala vineyard's twisted and gnarled 100-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines remain vital to the plans of grapegrowers Tom and Guy Adams, Langhorne Creek.

Dulcie and Jim Monaghan say they are glad with the quality of life in retirement at Karoonda.

Michael, Dick and Peter Fogden, Nangaringa, Loxton, have revived the tradition of hosting the SA Santa Gertrudis Sale on property.

Elders Limited auctioneer Don Cullen, in the thick of the action at the combined agents store sheep sale at Jamestown.

Flashback Friday – May 1991

In May 1991 we see the familiar wait for rain to start sowing, while stud owners prepared livestock...

Flashback Friday – May 1991

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