Five years ago, my family had their best ever harvest. The canola crops were shoulder high and rippled yellow velvet in the breeze.

The next three years were dry. Dust storms blocked the sun. When the fine grey sand-soil blew it took the fertiliser and cut the crops. Paddocks were reseeded, but at harvest the crops were spaced, and the yield was poor.

Last year it was far too wet. For months there were lakes and extra waterbirds in most paddocks. The submerged low-lying crops yellowed and died. Sections of paddocks were reseeded, some as many are four times. While my brother’s ‘claying’ work had helped keep the topsoil moist in the dry years, this time the extra clay worked against drainage. As the rain continued, my brother dug deep drains across paddocks to divert the water out of the crops and pasture. It was a challenge for the farm vehicles to cross the drains without getting bogged.

So far, this year, the weather has been ‘just right’ …