This year’s crops have been amazing. They’ve had everything thrown at them—starting with an early rain to kick off germination, followed by five hot, dry weeks that were really tough. But the crops adapted, holding on through the tough patch until the rain came in June.
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The rainfall in June, July, and August was solid, but September and October turned out to be very dry, which is a critical time for plant growth.
In many WA farming districts, the dry finish caused crops to lose yield and quality. Grains became small or pinched, and plants started yellowing off.
On the Haggerty farm, though, their Natural Intelligence Farming practices made all the difference.
The soils held more water, which helped the crops stay green through the dry period, maintaining both yield and quality right to the end of the season.
The cereal rye was the standout. After the early rain, it really suffered during the dry weeks. The farmers were worried it might have died off entirely—it looked terrible, with its first leaves all yellowed.
But when the rain arrived in June, it bounced back spectacularly and turned into a fantastic crop!
This really highlights the natural intelligence of cereal rye. It read the tough conditions, stopped focusing on growing leaves, and instead channelled its energy into its roots to stay alive. Once the rain returned, it was ready to thrive. It’s a great example of how resilient and resourceful nature can be when given the chance.
