Grain growers in southern New South Wales (NSW) have been able to achieve harvests despite significantly below-average rainfall through the implementation of new techniques and technology. The Griffith area, which typically receives up to 450 millimeters of annual rainfall, recorded only 200mm in 2025.
Agronomist Barry Haskins reported below-average production due to lack of rain but highlighted the ability to produce a crop with limited moisture. Farmer Matthew Molloy, who planted 7,000 hectares of various crops, reported receiving only 90mm of in-crop rain, significantly less than the 150mm typically considered necessary for viability. Despite this, Mr. Molloy was able to harvest a crop, stating that the outcome was better than incurring substantial losses.
Moisture Preservation Techniques
Farming practices have evolved since the millennium drought to enhance water efficiency. Key changes include:
- Minimum Tillage: Farmers have shifted from deep ploughing to shallow cultivation, which improves soil structure and water filtration.
- Stubble Conservation: Crop residue is left on the soil surface, forming a protective mulch that reduces water evaporation. Mr. Molloy indicated that building up stubble and organic matter has notably reduced evaporation on his property.
Technological Advancements
Technology also plays a crucial role in adapting to dry conditions:
- Weed Spraying Robots: Mr. Molloy utilizes robots to target specific weed species, reducing labor and herbicide costs. This ensures that rainfall is retained for crops by minimizing weed competition.
- Soil Moisture Probes: Data from these probes informs decisions on which parts of the farm to crop. Approximately 25% of Mr. Molloy's farm was taken out of production due to insufficient subsoil moisture at seeding time.
- Stripper Fronts: Farmer Brent Alexander in Milbrulong invested in a stripper front for his harvester. This machinery leaves taller stubble, shading the ground, keeping it cooler, and retaining more moisture.
- Crop Rotation: Mr. Haskins emphasized the importance of good crop rotation, including pulse crops and fresh paddocks, observing double yields where rotations were well-managed. Some farmers achieved 2.5 tonnes of canola and 5 tonnes of wheat in optimal areas with the same rainfall as others.
- Drought-Tolerant Varieties: The development of high-yielding and more drought-tolerant crop varieties has also significantly aided growers in dry years, representing an improvement compared to a decade ago.