Blvd d'Espair Bowhill, Sth Aust | I think mostly its a matter of swapping different problems. Things that wouldnt ever enter my head might be problems to you, and vice versa. In some ways I think its easier when you dont have to worry about what would be the best thing to grow because my options are extremely limited. Quite some years ago I had some Danish young farmers staying with me, and I typically was overly sensitive and a little embarrassed by the environment in which I live and farm, and the level and intensity of management compared to theirs. Because they were with me a week or so, we got to be friends and I was able to admit that to them, and their response was was "Don't feel like that.. We are amazed you can grow anything. We couldnt grow weeds in this environment." So i felt better for at least a while. : )
Having said that, the last 4 years are testing the resolve of many of us down here.
Peter's pics above dont look so bad to me either, but I'm quite aware that its often very difficult to show in pics what you are seeing in the field. And I dont know what is likely to happen in that environment. And there are varying levels of expectations as well.
I am hearing reports of areas that would be closer to Peter than to myself now not expecting to harvest enough cereals to replace their seed ( field saved seed is definitely the normal practice here)
Currently Im a long way from home travelling in Western Australia, where its wet wet wet. Reports from home have been of searing wind and heat a week ago or so , and a 7 mm ( 28/100 inch ) rain a couple of days ago.
I'm not sure if i want to go back to my reality : ) |
Some pics of Australian crop in trouble
