Farming through the Dry with Matt Eckert

Podcast Highlights In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver speaks with South Australian grower Matt Eckert in the first of a three-part series. Matt shares a candid look at the decisions, trade-offs, and resilience required to keep a mixed farming operation running during a prolonged dry spell.With the region facing one of its hardest seasons in recent years, Matt opens up about the real impact of drought — from feed shortages and pasture losses to the mental load of managing stock and cropping programs when nothing goes to plan.Drought pressure is forcing a rethink of pasture renovation and cropping programs across mixed farmsResowing lucerne has its limits - and knowing when to push on or start again is shaping long-term plansSoil amelioration, including deep ploughing and clay spreading, continues to improve outcomes but isn’t a fix-all in extreme seasonsSeeding strategies are being adjusted in real time, with lessons from previous dry years influencing crop timing, inputs, and variety choiceEarly fodder purchasing and stored inventory have been critical in keeping livestock fed and breeding programs afloatDecisions around feeding, destocking, and confinement lambing are being made fast, with economics and animal welfare front of mindWhile the short-term outlook is tight, a clear long-term view is helping guide every decision on the farm