Like many areas in 2019, we received our lowest annual rainfall in nearly 140 years of official records.
However, compared to many we have been "fortunate" to receive 311 millimetres for 2019 and appreciate that lots of properties, even in similar average annual rainfall environments to ours (638mm annual average), received much less.
However, it is valuable to assess how much production has been possible, despite low rainfall, combined with above average temperatures.
It is also valuable to assess how even greater use of minimal rainfall might have been possible.
In only two months (March 94mm, November 70mm) did we receive above average rainfall, but a few other months received useful falls for a light soil property (January 59mm, May 20mm, June 20mm, July 22mm).
Especially critical was good herbage cover in pasture paddocks and good stubble cover in winter fodder crop paddocks for capture of rain like the March storm.
Storms were common in many areas over March 2019, and where pasture and stubble cover were non-existent most of the rain ran off.
Saving that rainfall was important for sowing of dual purpose and grazing only winter crops as well as for getting pastures away.
Capture of spring 2018 and 2018/19 summer/early autumn rain in winter fodder crop paddocks, although well below average, was vital for sowing of these crops on time.
Stored soil water was also vital for keeping crops going through the following mainly dry seven months.
Being light soil paddocks, cereals were able to establish their secondary root systems reasonably on time to be well anchored for mid-May onwards grazing.
While a relatively dry fallow period, fallows were sprayed four times, vital for conserving moisture for winter feed.
We had neighbours sow "winter habit" brassica for winter grazing and these were ready for grazing several weeks ahead of our cereals.
Brassica species (e.g. canola) have a tap root that can establish directly into subsoil moisture, whereas cereals are dependent on a follow-up rain for their main secondary root systems to properly develop.
While our winter fodder crops did not carry our more normal rate of around 2.5 steers/ha over late autumn, winter/early spring, they were able to carry 1.5 DSE/ha for that period, a vital part of the feed year as it turned out. Once winter settled in, little other feed was commonly available.
Raising a boundary fence by 35cm was also important to keep out kangaroos.
Most properties in our area have good areas of tropical grasses, and light soil parts can respond to even small falls of rain between mid-September to the end of May (longer in warmer areas, shorter in colder ones).
50 per cent of our is farm established to tropicals, (Premier digit, Consol, Bambatsi panic) and these grew useful feed, especially after January, March and November 2019 rains.
A fall of 20-30mm commonly results in green feed, on lighter soils, for four or so weeks with dried off feed also good quality.
Particularly valuable to perennial grass recovery after rain is to have reasonable levels of retained drymatter.
If previous grazing allowed for recovery (a rotational grazing system) root reserves are likely to be higher, helping faster recovery.
Good soil fertility via fertiliser programs also contributes to better feed quality, allowing for good animal growth rates.
Winter legumes did not contribute much to the drought feed supply.
However, serradella, our main legume, did supply useful winter/early spring feed and did set some seed.
In contrast, sub clover hayed off in the winter failing to set seed and provide much grazing.
Gross margin (gross returns less variable costs) for calendar year 2019 was around half our normal trading steer enterprise.
That's not great, but does show the value of improved lighter country in drier times.
Steers were mainly sold at lower weights (different markets), and careful purchasing post odd useful rain, allowed for turnoff of normal numbers.
Sometimes we destocked to well below normal levels and occasionally we rapidly restocked.
Doing that on rainfall forecasts caused some anxiety, and we will endeavour to be more careful in the future.
Upgrading the water supply was also critical.
Next week: Bushfire recovery. Pastures and crop strategies.
- Bob Freebairn is an agricultural consultant based at Coonabarabran. Email robert.freebairn@bigpond.com or contact (0428) 752 149.