Crops wait on late break

The Bureau of Meteorology’s SA senior climatologist Darren Ray said all indications were for a late break to the sowing season.

“We could be waiting until well into May to get a decent start to the season,” he said.

There were some indications of scattered showers throughout the state for the rest of the month, possibly five to 10 millimetres.

“But nothing significant until May,” he said.

Mr Ray said there was a lack of tropical activity along the equator, which would normally be present at this time of year, while high pressure systems were blocking any potential moisture from the south. 

He said the climatic conditions were usually those seen during summer, which was typical for the tail effects of El Nino.

“El Nino has still got a bit of sting in its tail,” he said. “Once (that) clears out of the way in the next month or so, the background conditions are for a reasonable season.”

Mr Ray said conditions later in the growing season were looking more positive.

“Once (the growing season) does get going, it will be at least average or wetter than average,” he said. “There are real indications spring could be a reasonable finish for SA and southern parts of eastern Australia.”

The bureau predicts a 50 per cent chance of La Nina developing in the coming months, which would support the wetter season. 

Mr Ray said they had been looking at international and Australian climate models and about half showed the climate returning to neutral, following the end of El Nino, and the other half showed the presence of La Nina.

He said the warmer Indian Ocean temperatures looked like they would stay in place during winter and spring, which would support wetter weather conditions, even without La Nina.

Ground Up Agronomy’s Michelle Bammann, Clare, said most people in the region were ready to begin sowing, but were held up by the dry conditions.

“It’s a lot drier than I’ve known Clare to be at this time of year,” she said.

Ms Bammann said there was very little moisture in either the subsoil or top soil, with rain patchy. 

She said most of her clients had dry-sown livestock feed, but were waiting to see what would happen with the rain.

Agrilink consultant Jeff Braun said this was the first year in a long time that the Mid North would miss out on an early break.

“This is the first time since 2005, we’ve had to start sowing completely dry,” he said.

Mr Braun said many people would still start seeding regardless.

“A lot of people sow by the calendar; the advantages of early sowing are well and truly understood,” he said.

Mr Braun said soil moisture varied, depending on the last rain event and the stubble type. He said people were preparing to sow canola, pastures, beans and lupins within the week.