Sam Mooy: This Farming Life

Local farmer Ian Farley along with wife Trish and family, grows grains and raises sheep on his property "Marmon Hill", a land of approximately 15,000 acres near the town of Jabuk, in South Australia. 

Marmon Hill, which has experienced 6 drought seasons from the past 7 years, has scaled back to 5000 ewes (sheep) from a population of 8000 and grows a multitude of grains including but not limited to Wheat, Barley, Lupins, Oats, Canola and Peas.  

As with the early settlers, many farmers have either passed on or passed in the farming life for an easier future. Battling a four year drought and un-even earth, the quality of the soil changing field by field, life on the land has been getting harder for farmers year by year. 

The dry-as-dust south, in an area where the mighty Murray and Darling rivers are being slowly bled to death, farmers experienced a heat wave with well above average temperatures exceeding 45 degrees celcius in February 2009. This year’s South Australian summer, feeling like hell on earth, most farmers, including Ian Farley along with his team worked through the hottest part of the day ensuring that the business on the farm is done. 

"This farming life" series is an ongoing project over the course of a year, exploring but not limited to Ian's journey through the course of the year and the surrounding district of Jabuk and it's community. 

It is expected to be completed by 2010.