Weather is one of the biggest factors that can affect a farmer’s year – it can either contribute to it positively or be detrimental. 

Clunes farmer John Henderson-Drife’s family has been on the land since 1852. He farms cattle and crops and said he has noticed a number of changes in the weather during his time.

“There’s no doubt [the weather] is changing,” he said. “Being an old farmer, we all talk about what the weather’s doing. We talk about the weather all the time because it’s what makes or loses us money.”

He said he had noticed a number of changes, especially in regards to winters. 

“When I was a little kid you used to have to wear boots all winter, but now we are getting less rain,” he said. “We have always kept rain records. Normally in winter we would get between 25 and 28 inches of rainfall. Now it’s more like 16 or 18 inches.”

He said one thing that sticks out to him as an indicator that the weather is changing is that as a child he would water ski on Lake Learmonth every summer, but it is now completely dry.

“It’s things like that that make it obvious that the climate has changed over time,” he said.

In terms of his farming, Mr Drife said that with less cold weather rainfall, it was easier for him to work in the winter as the land was less water logged. 

He said there had always been a vast difference in weather conditions across the shire.

“When we would have 20 odd inches of rainfall here they would have 50 inches of rainfall in Bullarto. And it’s not that far - it’s only a stone’s throw away.”

He said the biggest change he had noticed was rainfall, and didn’t think the region was experiencing more frequent storms or bushfires as they had always occurred. 

This Thursday, February 21 Creswick and District Bank, in association with Rural Bank, is hosting meteorologist Jane Bunn at Smeaton Recreation Reserve. 

She will explain the local weather patterns and reveal predictions for the year ahead for the region’s farmers and associated businesses. Ms Bunn said she would analyse the most up-to-date data.

“I am looking at the long term models to determine whether the Pacific and Indian Oceans are going to send moisture our way,” she said. “I’m going to have a look at the model, the forecast, the predictions, of what the weather systems are likely to do this year for us.”

Also at the event, The Dean Newlyn Young Farmers will highlight  their latest fundraising campaign, a nude calendar, in aid of mental health awareness for farmers. Tickets still available at: https://janebunn.eventbrite.com.au