Historically dry start to 2024 has continued but rain set to hit SA this week

Adelaide recorded its driest run of February-April weather in 100 years and has only had 0.6mm so far in May. So will SA get a well-needed soaking before the end of the month?

The state’s historically dry start to 2024 has continued deep into May with South Australians wondering when we will get a good soaking.

A dry spell was broken last week, but the light showers weren’t the opening rains farmers had hoped for with some fearing the weather could spell disaster for SA produce.

Adelaide recorded its driest run of February-April weather in 100 years and as we approach the end of May, Adelaide’s West Tce rain gauge has only recorded 0.6mm for the month.

Important agricultural areas of the state have also been without much rain and affecting the water available for crops, according to Bureau of Meteorology spokesman climatologist Dr Simon Grainger.

May 16, 2024: Daniel Marrett – crop farmer on his property at Peake. The dry weather is causing issues for supplies of feed and crops Picture: Kelly Barnes

“February to April 2024 rainfall for most of southeast South Australia was in serious deficiency, meaning it was in the lowest 10 per cent of all years since 1900,” he said.

“Large parts of the Eyre Peninsula, and some areas on the Yorke Peninsula and around Clare had their driest February – April period on record, since 1900”.

According to Bureau of Meteorology data, for the month to date up until May 27, the highest rainfall was recorded at Prospect Hill in the Adelaide Hills with 13.4mm recorded and 10.6mm at Monarto South, near Murray Bridge.

However, experts are tipping rain later this week with up to 15mm of rain set to hit the city on Thursday, with up to 10mm tipped for Friday.

In the South-East, Mt Gambier it is predicted to get up to 9mm of rain on Thursday while in the Upper South-East, Keith is tipped for up to 8mm.

Remark, in the state’s Riverland, Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula is also tipped for up to 8mm of rain.

Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology’s long term forecasting is predicting “unusually high rainfall during June to August”.

Unusually high rainfall is defined as the highest 20 per cent of June to August rainfall from 1981 to 2018.

‘Very stressful’: Hopes drying up fast as new threat looms

As farmers across the state look skyward for desperately-needed season-breaking rain, producers on Kangaroo Island are facing an extra challenge – getting fodder across to the island to feed hungry livestock.

KI mayor Michael Pengilly said anxious farmers were unable to get the grain and hay they needed due to the one Sealink ferry capable of transporting hay being out of action for maintenance.

“We haven’t yet had a break to the season so paddock feed is pretty much non-existent … it is cold, ewes are heavy in lambing … it is really tough,” Mr Pengilly said.

“It is a period of high anxiety for our farmers.”

Mr Pengilly is calling for “government and other key stakeholders to find an urgent solution”, ahead of the ferry’s planned return to the water in June, including a “lifeline” hay-carrying barge.

Peter Glover, who farms on the Lower Eyre Peninsula has sown most of this year’s cropping program dry with just lentils to plant. Picture: Jack Davies

Rick Morris, a farmer at Karatta on Kangaroo Island, needs to source grain and fodder to feed his pregnant ewes, due to a lack of green feed. Picture: Supplied

Farmer Rick Morris, who runs 5000 ewes at Karatta on the island’s south coast, has just two weeks of grain left in storage and would welcome any initiative to ease pressure amid unseasonable conditions.

”We’ve fully utilised local stocks of grain and hay, even straw; there is no feed in the paddocks and it is very stressful,” he said.

“I have been in the system trying to get a few loads of grain for three weeks … there is a real bottleneck. I am just waiting in line like everyone else.”

Transport Department chief Jon Whelan said his department was working closely with Primary Industries as well as AgKI – KI’s peak primary production body – on solutions.

“It is unfortunate that it has been the perfect storm with no rain – and the need to have feed – at the same time (this) ferry is offline,” he said.

“We are fully aware of the issues and working with Sealink to ensure additional services are put on when the Spirit of KI is back on June 1 … we’ve seen a schedule and are relatively confident we are going to be able to service the needs of farmers.”

Elsewhere across the state it is estimated more than 60 per cent of South Australian grain growers have opted to dry sow, ahead of the season’s break.

“Growers need a saturating rain to get germination underway in most cropping regions … in the past decade, there’s been instances in SA of quite late breaking rains into June so grain producers are optimistic about that much-needed moisture coming soon,” Grain Producers SA (GPSA) CEO Brad Perry said

Peter Glover who crops 9000 hectares at Yeelanna on the Lower Eyre Peninsula said 7500 hectares has so far been planted, with “just lentils to go”, beginning seeding dry on April 15.

“A good season is still possible for the state but less likely every day it stays dry,” he said.

“A lot of things will have to go right from here for that to happen … farmers are pessimistic optimists, always hoping for the best but fearing the worst,” he said.

Originally published as Historically dry start to 2024 has continued but rain set to hit SA this week