After an unpredictable start to the season, crop potential across most parts of the Eyre Peninsula has "surprisingly" improved, according to agronomists from the region.
Some parts of the EP are on track for an average season, but some croppers could still have challenges ahead, according to Carr's Seeds agronomist Denis Pedler, Cummins.
He said despite "zero soil moisture" because of limited summer rain, most of the lower EP had brilliant sowing conditions.
Cummins has recorded 170 millimetres of rain since the start of the year, with more than 100mm falling in May.
"I would say we are slightly in front of where we were at the same time last year for crop quality, which is a great sign," Mr Pedler said.
"Wheat and barley crops are at early tillering, while canola is beginning to set up for flowering - canola would be the most impressive crop in our area."
But nearby croppers at Lock are still chasing more rain, recording just 2.6mm this month, totalling 77mm this year.
On the coast at Cowell and Arno Bay, rainfall tallies are also significantly less than the annual average.
Arno Bay has recorded less than 70mm of rain for the year, while Cowell is at less than 60mm.
Cleve Rural Traders agronomist Sarah Meyers said coastal areas were "struggling".
"Good crop potential is stacking up for most croppers, but confidence is still low in those parts because of no subsoil moisture. Crops are living off a rain at a time," she said.
Buckleboo agronomist Tristan Baldock said despite the Kimba district being mostly known for its reliability, at this stage, conditions were "less than ideal" in some parts.
Kimba has recorded 85mm since January, with the most recent larger rainfall of 8mm measured about a month ago.
"But crops are looking surprisingly healthy despite receiving less than half of our average rainfall for this time of the year," Mr Baldock said.
"Wheat crops are starting to bolt at first node which is concerning - the main stem only has one to two tillers, there is still potential but realistically without significant rainfall in the next few weeks, we are on track for a below-average year," he said.
Further west, Mudamuckla received 70mm of opening rain in May, bringing its total rainfall for the season up to 130mm.
Hope remains despite battles
After a dry start and severe soil drift damage on-farm last year, Arno Bay croppers Jeremy and Erin Calliss entered this season with concerns about crop potential, but they remain optimistic.
The couple put in 1900 hectares of crop, including 300-400ha of vetch.
They have only recorded 65 millimetres of rain for the year, despite it being a 300mm annual rainfall area.
Mr Calliss crops in Arno Bay and more inland parts of the district.
"The western country has had double the amount of rain than the coast, which is rare," he said.
"About 50ha at Arno has had four passes of cereal rye sown on it since May last year to restore cover and stop any further drift."
Mr Calliss said cereal crops were on-track, but "struggling for moisture".
"It has given us some optimism, but crops are definitely looking stressed," he said.
To counteract further soil erosion, contour banks have been formed across 100ha to limit wind impact at ground level.
