It’s that time of year when we, as farmers, turn our attention to the sky. More than usual the conversation revolves around if and when it is going to rain. In a land of drought, timing is everything. Too early and the crop might not come up, too late and the crop will fail to ripen.

This year, more than ever, farmers are on edge waiting for the rain, as the past two seasons have been extremes – 2010 was the driest year on record and 2011 the wettest. This doesn’t do a lot for confidence, especially when the wheat price outlook is so low.

This low confidence had been seen in no better testing ground than the clearing sales throughout February and March. With a record crop in the silo, you would expect the bidding to be frantic on the machinery up for auction. After all, who can resist a shiny piece of kit at a bargain price?

Apparently the average farmer in WA can. This year he has stuck his hands in his pockets and isn’t taking them out. Harvesters, tractors and seeders are all failing to get a bid, with only sundry items being cleared. Of course all this will change if, when and how much rain falls over the next two months. Farmers will be checking the weather maps, listening to the radio and watching the TV reports at night, yelling out: “Shhhhh, I’m listening to the weather”, if there is even the slightest noise in the house.

I sometimes think the only reason I farm is for the smell of the first rain on the dry hot parched soil, like water drops hitting hot steel. It gives a sweet earthy smell, very soon followed by that of burning diesel.

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