Just Add Water!

Our trip to Birchip to learn drying climate strategies has ironically happened during rainy weather, and my farmer tour guide nearly got us bogged in his paddocks! The people of the Southern Mallee are understably cherishing the rain, and they enjoy just watching their paddocks grow. Sheep shearing is delayed, and vetch hay, recently cut and lying in rows, has been ruined, but the farmers were pretty philosophical, saying "Oh well the crops are still growing."
There is still a degree of tension though with locust hatchings being carefully watched, and little patches of frost evidence being checked - getting this season's harvest in the bin and money in the bank is critical for all - the farmers and the town businesses and for community confidence.
There is a degree of concern about the logistics of harvesting and transporting the crops to markets - the rail network seems unliklely to cope. Does this sound familiar to Western Australian Wheatbelt farmers?
Hooray, we are stopping for coffee, en route to the airport, so this blog is interrupted.
Key quote regarding marketing of wheat for you to think about;
There is nothing like high prices to cure high prices" - Jonathon White - AWB
regards Jane Mouritz