THE state's seven-day lockdown brought many industries to a standstill, but for those working in agriculture it has been business as usual.
In previous lockdowns, those in primary production have been given broader 'essential service' status by the state government, but this time SAPOL's directive was updated to only allow for "time-critical ag tasks where the delay would jeopardise the present or future availability of food or other essential goods or services".
Rural merchandise stores have continued to trade, fertiliser depots ticked along and weekly livestock markets have been held, but the area of greatest confusion has been ram sales.
Last week, the four studs due to hold a ram sale during lockdown frantically sought clarity and in the end they all went ahead, even though SAPOL's recommendation was "if possible sales should be postponed".
Merino SA president Joe Dahlitz says it was a "huge relief " to have his family's on-property ram sale behind them.
He says the state government has done a good job in its handling of the pandemic, but felt it was "terribly unfair" to potentially deny stud breeders "their harvest".
Mr Dahlitz and his wife Tracey were given the green light by the COVID-19 Hotline on Tuesday last week for their Roemahkita sale at Cummins, but the following day were told by SAPOL it was off, only for it to be back on less than 24 hours later.
"During grain harvest in November last year we had a complete lockdown and harvest kept on going, so for studs this week to be told their sale couldn't was like saying they couldn't get the header out of the shed," he said.
"This is our harvest, which is 18-20 months in the planning."
The agents, all the cliens and the stud breeders all want to do the right thing so they don't get a huge fine or bring COVID to their area.
- Joe Dahlitz, Merino SA president
He said if the affected studs had been unable to proceed, it would have been potentially months for them to secure another sale date, thus making it more difficult for their clients to breed next year's lambs.
In coming weeks he hopes all Merino SA members will be able to hold their sales.
"The agents, all the clients and the stud breeders all want to do the right thing so they don't get a huge fine or bring COVID into their areas and I think it can be fairly easily done
Primary Producers SA chairperson Don Plowman says the state government's recognition of the importance of agriculture to the state's food supply has been pleasing.
The early interaction between PPSA, the state government and PIRSA had helped resolve many of the issues, he said.
"Our three main areas of concern (early on) were around the closure of restaurants and the loss of markets, lack of clarity around gatherings and, most importantly, interstate transport, but under Ministers Whetstone and Basham many of these issues have been effectively resolved," he said.
"Most lockdowns are for a fairly short time and by now I think primary production know what they can and can't do."
COONALPYN SALE GOES AHEAD IN LOCKDOWN
WHEN Canowie livestock manager Monica Ley and stud principal Ken Sawers heard on the radio that SA was being plunged into lockdown on their way home from collecting their sale pens on Tuesday last week, they sprung into action.
Luckily, within 12 hours they had the green light from the COVID-19 hotline to proceed with their Coonalpyn ram sale on Friday.
"It was pretty straightforward. I waited on hold for about half an hour and then when I got through just before 5pm, I explained I had a COVID Safe Plan, it was being held on-farm and there would be a maximum of 50 attendees," she said.
"About 10pm that night I got a call back to say it was an unrestricted event and could go ahead."
Ms Ley's biggest concern was that the local police - who seemed unaware ram sales were considered unrestricted events - could try to shut down the sale, but this did not occur.
Canowie sold 35 rams - the same as 2020 - to a $3400 high and lifted its average to $1387, but Ms Ley believes it may have been an even better result if not for lockdown.
"We sold the same number of rams but to less buyers. A couple of our regular buyers didn't travel and a couple of potential new buyers pulled out the night before. It is pretty hard to buy Merino rams without sussing their wool out in the pens," she said.
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