The weekend’s rain event across much of the state’s agricultural area was unusual for this late in the year. Moisture and thunderstorms drifting
down from the north are generally associated with summer-type rain events.
Those that were fortunate enough to receive good rain will see a significant boost as crops emerge. For those that received particularly heavy falls, there may be some crop damage from pre-emergent chemicals, but that is a wait-and-see situation.
I sent out a few texts and made a few calls, and pretty much anywhere south of Mallala did not fare as well. While some thunderstorms delivered significant rainfall, areas just 2-3 km away received much lower totals, so some still do not have a tall dog.
Did you know that thunder and lightning fertilise the soil through a natural process called atmospheric nitrogen fixation. The intense heat and electrical energy of a lightning bolt shatter bonded atmospheric nitrogen molecules.
These free nitrogen atoms combine to form nitrogen oxides which dissolve in rainwater and fall as nitrates a way cheaper plant fertiliser. Old timers like me know this, and yep it is a scientific fact (I looked it up).
Mesonet Gauges (mm)
Balaklava – 30
Pinery – 12
Jamestown – 17
Crystal Brook – 20
Nantawarra – 20
Wild Horse Plains – 30
Korunye – 6
Gulnare – 17
Alma – 24
Nuriootpa – 5
Hamley Bridge – 11
Saddleworth – 3
Snowtown – 2
Private Gauges (mm)
Gary Zweck (Blyth) – 16
Mathew Burford (Hoskin Corner) – 40
Kaden Zerk (Ridgeway) – 54
Jon Harkness (Woods) – 30
Andrew Parker (Hoskin Corner) – 22
Mark McInerney – 7
Kelvin Gameau (Dalkey Hill) – 18
Mark Griffiths (Riverton) – 9
Angus Wiech (Eudunda) – 14
Shane Fahrmann (Devils Garden) – 47
Trevor Day (Kapunda) – 7
Wayne Molineux – 12
Claire Catford (Halbury) – 11
Shaun Nottle (Lochiel) – 18
Peter Shepherd (Balaklava) – 29
Peter Shepherd (Avon) – 5
Peter Shepherd (Hoskin Corner) – 36
Rob Saint (Erith) – 26
Rob Saint (Bowmans) – 28
Brian Parker (Owen) – 11
Andrew Plueckhahn (Manoora) – 17
Gaye Kuerschner (Black Rock) – 27
Chris Chapman (Hoyleton) – 27
Pat Redden (Clare) – 11
Richard Konzag (Mallala) – 14
Duncan Crawford (Halbury) – 26
Aaron Clifford (Pinery) – 12
Ed Cay (Days Hill) – 10
Simon May (Nine Mile) – 30
Simon May (Balaklava) – 12
Glen Bubner (Salter Springs) – 29
Glen Bubner (Alma) – 14
Glen Bubner (Owen) – 12
Bill Hean (Auburn) – 7
Jim Franks (Mallala) – 11
Ben Mudge (Inkerman) – 17
Cameron Lowe (Pinkerton Plains) – 4
Developing farming skills
Over the last five or so weeks, my sister Fiona and her husband Malcolm have been visiting from Tasmania.
Aside from installing 18 building history story signs along Owen’s main street, attending four weddings and a funeral, and camping for a week in the Flinders, they have been busy collecting farm skill tickets endorsed by yours truly.
Malcolm was particularly fascinated by how many complicated steps are involved in sowing a crop. Here is a list of their combined achievements:
1. Pulling down a kilometre of 100-year-old post and wire fencing and clearing the line ready for a new fence.
2. Front end loader operation (60 hp ‘Little red’).
3. Professional escort (I suggested Fiona might not want to advertise this ticket too widely).
4. Pressure cleaner operation.
5. Parts collection.
6. Native scrub assessment.
7. Horehound removal.
8. Fox hole destruction.
9. Night-time seeding observation (keeping me company till midnight, although she may have nodded off which was not a lot of help).
They are both keen to add to their farm skills proficiency certificates on their next visit.
