Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Farmers on Yorke Peninsula are rejoicing after receiving some of the best rainfall for a year and a half with lighter falls forecast for today, Tuesday, July 29, and on Wednesday and Thursday.

In the seven days to 9am Monday, falls ranged from 34 millimetres at Port Broughton, to 47mm at Snowtown, 64mm at Pine Point, 65mm at Maitland and 53mm at Yorketown.

Next Level agronomy director Chris Davey said last week’s rain was the most general to fall across YP for 18 months.

“It is so fantastic to talk to clients on northern YP and find out they have tipped 25 to 40mm out of their rain gauges this weekend, with more forecast for today (Tuesday),” he said.

“Reports from southern YP are for 50mm or more for the week, so wonderful news all round.

“These last rains are such a game changer that will turn around the season for most farmers, and are hopefully a sign of things to come in spring — fingers crossed.

“Their effect will vary between establishing crops properly in the drier northern and coastal areas, to furthering the yield potential of crops that are set already.

“Until now, 2025 had produced very strippy, patchy rainfall events for the growing season.

Examples of this included the late April thundery showers, and Tuesday night’s rain that dumped 30 to 60mm in a narrow band across Wauraltee to Sandilands.

Tickera farmer Scott Bussenschutt was very happy with the 36mm he got between Friday, July 25 and Sunday, July 27.

“That’s the biggest rainfall event we’ve had since October last year,” he said.

“We were basically just getting drip fed with just enough to get the crops out of the ground — barely — and then we just had just enough to keep them alive.

“There’s a lot of late germination, therefore we are going to need a very good spring to be able to finish them off.

“We had no subsoil moisture, there was nothing in reserve, nothing in the bank at all, until now.

“Finally, we haven’t had a dry July.”

Mr Bussenschutt said he only had about 100mm of rain this year, which was about half of what he would have by now in a normal year.

Richard James grows wheat, barley and lentils at his Kulpara and Bute properties, where he recorded 29mm and 30mm respectively between Thursday and Sunday night.

“It will make a big difference here they’re the sort of rains we need,” he said.

“We had a similar amount probably two weeks ago, so that just tops it up and now I’ve had good July rainfall.

“There’s still a long way to go, but it’s got us on the right track.”
Mr James said he was hoping to get another 5 to 10mm from the rainfall forecast for early this week.

He said he has had 140mm at Kulpara this year, which was about 100mm below the average for this time of the year.

Geoff and Tania Stock, of Jandebrey White Suffolks stud at Sandilands, said they were fortunate to benefit from a narrow band of rain which swept across Yorke Peninsula on Tuesday, July 22, dropping 29mm on their property, followed by 48mm later in the week.

“This is the best winter rain I’ve seen in probably a couple years,” Mr Stock said.

Ms Stock said pastures were not growing now because it was too cold.

“Once the days get a bit longer and a bit warmer, then it’ll start to kick off a bit but certainly the extra moisture will do them the world of good,” she said.

Crossbred lambs sold for up to $405 a head at the Dublin saleyards on July 22, and Mrs Stock said the higher prices would help sheep producers who have been struggling through the drought.

“Everyone’s had to destock and reduce their numbers so it’s going to help compensate for that and all that money spent hand-feeding them for such a long time,” she said.

“It will help them to catch up, it’s not like it’s a windfall.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 29 July 2025.