Whilst not a traditional season break, last week’s patchy rainfall has given farmers wary confidence to push on with their seeding programs. Sowing into marginal moisture is always a bit of a gamble, but at this time of year, chances are you may get away with it.
Rainfall was extremely variable, and, on my property, which spans about a 15km radius, totals varied by around 10mm. It is not overly wet, but the rain has meant you can sow without dust, even if the moisture has not quite made it to the seedbed.
Rainfall models are bouncing around as always, and sometimes it is nice to take a break from checking them for several days while we wait for a statewide rain event.
The chatter about an El Niño is concerning, but generally it just heralds an average to slightly below-average season in South Australia, which after the last couple of years would be more than acceptable.
If you are a weather nerd, after some considerable thought I have come up with my top five most annoying weather terms that pop up regularly in the mainstream media and what they really mean.
1. Rain Bomb: This term is used every time there is a forecast for more than 20mm in a 24-hour period, usually accompanied by warnings to move your Commodore in Smithfield to higher ground. (If it is already on blocks, you will probably be okay).
2. Polar Blast: This refers to forecasts of temperatures below 15 degrees for two to three days in a row. Viewers are advised to rug up, while some old footage of the snowfields or a dated clip from Mount Lofty, is usually rolled out on screen.
3. Widespread Rainfall: This means everywhere south of Roseworthy will receive 25mm, while everywhere north will receive about 5mm.
4. Cyclonic Winds: Wind forecasts above 50km/h with gusts up to 90km/h. You are advised to tidy up the rubbish in your yard and probably throw a rope over that Commodore still on blocks just in case. Footage will generally include a trampoline on someone’s roof or on top of a Commodore (still on blocks) because someone ignored the instructions and failed to peg it down with two-foot-long pegs.
5. Super El Niño: This is a made-up term. It is either an El Niño or it is not. “Super El Niño” just sounds more dramatic, and punters may suddenly feel the urge to stock up on toilet paper, just in case.
A day in the life of a farmer during seeding
Get up, have a full breakfast of toast and coffee, check your paddock plan, then procrastinate about where to go next with the air seeder and sprayer.
Pack lunch and snacks for a day’s work. Eat the lot by 9:30 am.
A mystery code comes up on your tractor. It appears serious as the tractor goes into limp mode and then shuts down.
Turn the tractor off and back on-again. Code vanishes.
Mention it to your dealer’s mechanic. Advice is to replace the hydraulic sensor: a $270 part.
“Easy job”, according to the mechanic. Wait until the tractor is cool, remove the sensor, and have oil gush down your sleeve, onto your head, and all over the ground.
Insert the new sensor and then go have a shower. Fill the truck with seed and fertiliser, then realise the bagging door was not closed the night before. Shovel up two bags of seed.
Move the auger to a different silo. The hydraulic seal on the lift ram fails and oil squirts all over you as you move it into the next silo.
Fill the air seeder. Halfway through, the engine stops.
Fill the motor with petrol. Still will not start. Top up with oil. Still will not start.
Check spark plug, lead is loose, tighten and successful start. Clean up spilled seed, tip the truck up higher to empty out the remaining seed, then realise you left the tarp open and did not lock the roll tarp arm so the new tarp is now stretched.
Fill the boomspray with a few thousand dollars’ worth of chemical, then realise the tractor tyre is flat. Call your tyre man.
Start seeding. After the first boxful, realise an air seeder hose is missing after hooking it on a tree during the first lap.
About to start the second boxful when you notice what looks like a shower of rain. No, that is oil behind the tractor.
Realise a hydraulic hose has worn through at the clamp and needs replacing. Head off to Adelaide to get a special hose made.
The hose is “in stock”, although you need to visit several places because the fittings are not that common a fitting. Technician asks, “When do you need it?” “Now,” is your reply.
Resist saying, “If I wanted it tomorrow, I would’ve come in tomorrow.” Eventually the new hose is made and it fits. Happy days.
Get the tractor going again after dark, finish the paddock and finally knock off.
Send me your seeding photos!
With seeding in full swing and some even sowing into a moist soil profile, how about capturing a few shots. Send them to me at parks5461@gmail.com or text to 0407 619 070.
Include what when and where along with photo credit. Do not forget to send in your pothole photos, the competition is still wide open!
