SA seeding all but finished

Lameroo cropper and sheep producer Craig Needs said a large rain event in March dropped between 30 and 80 millimetres on the property, giving enough soil moisture to get established.

Mr Needs sowed a mix of beans, lentils, vetch and cereals, with all seeding done by May 26.

"We then had a few small rains throughout seeding between 5mm and 8mm," he said. "Once we finished seeding, we got 30mm last week and 15mm over the weekend.

"We're pretty fortunate this year to get some moisture in this small pocket, on the back of a tough year last year there's a bit more confidence now."

Although the recent rain events have given moisture levels a top up, last year's dry season means there is not much moisture down deep according to Mr Needs.

Despite this, he said he was confident in the season ahead.

"We're off to a good start but we're going to need follow up rain still - it all comes down to spring," he said.

"Last year, the break was 8mm at the end of May and we managed to get most of our crop in on that 8mm - it was surprising how well the crops did on the marginal moisture we had.

"We only had 12mm in May, June was 28mm in eight different rain events and 56mm in July, which got the crops going, then 18mm in August and that was it for the year.

"Even still, we had a good harvest, so things are looking positive for this year."

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Covering Bowhill, Lameroo, Coomandook and everywhere in between, Elders Murray Bridge agronomist Craig Bell said although early rains were "strippy", those who got early rains managed to get up and seeding and were finished.

"There were patches that missed out (on early rain) so they're early into their program and pushing pretty hard," he said.

"What everyone was seeding made a difference too.

"Some of the conventional stuff is still going in now, whereas the Clearfield stuff got in early because there are better weed control options."

Further north, Clare-based GroundUp Agronomy consultant Michelle Bammann said most of her clients had been held up finishing seeding due to upwards of 60 millimetres of rain in the last fortnight.

"It's been a bit too wet now to finish seeding - not that we're complaining," she said.

"It's been very quiet this week and I haven't been able to get to the paddocks because its been too wet, but everyone's gearing up to finish off.

"We've pretty much got a full profile of moisture now, obviously we'll need top ups, but at this stage we're sitting pretty nicely for a while."

Nutrien Jamestown agronomist Steve Richardson said Jamestown had no rain of any significance since November last year, but tests showed there was still moisture in the soil in some areas.

"We did a few deep ends and we did have moisture at depth," he said.

"It was just that top part of the soil that was dry and once you got down there was moisture there from the six inches we had in November.

"While the June break has been late for some regions, our average break is mid to late May anyway, so it's been in the realms of normality for us.

"Getting the rain we did in the last few weeks was vital though and has ensured everyone can finish up their programs after drying sowing at least half of their crop."