No one needs to be reminded how much rain fell in 2024, but it is interesting to think about what production would have eventuated if farming techniques were the same as 25 years ago.

I suspect output would have been markedly lower.

Recently, I have been reading the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath.

This is a multi-layered tale covering a myriad of topics including human frailty and resilience of spirit.

The early part of the story revolves around the dust bowl in Oklahoma in the 1930s, and how many families were forced off the land.

The drought on the great plains lasted for 10 years, so the comparison with 2024 is flimsy, but it had me thinking.

The production that came out of 2024 was an extraordinary result for many farming operations, given the scant growing season rainfall.

This is testament to the much-improved farming techniques and vastly superior varieties now available.

Much of the improvement is because of the skill of the agribusiness operators who have stewardship of the operations.

Some sectors are dealing with structural issues that impact profitability, and superior management is not stemming the losses, wine grapes fit in this category.

I have also seen many livestock operations perform admirably over the past few years as well.

Genetics and management have played a large role.

Many in the livestock sector are acutely aware of stocking rates and grass budgets etc.

This was not always the case.

There has also been a big uplift in containment feeding and budgeting to ensure an economic return.

While not all livestock operations are completely on top of all facets of their business, many are.

Professionalism rears its head in other ways as well.

An example is those farming operations that have a laser-like focus on costs within their business and are completely on top of their numbers.

For agribusinesses that have this level of oversight into their operations, they can make decisions quickly, backed up by numbers.

Of course, experience and gut feel should not be dismissed.

But a truly informed decision will require accurate numbers as its basis.

Most farmers have a thirst for knowledge and actively seek out various sources.

We live in the information age, and data is everywhere.

As the old saying goes, sorting the wheat from the chaff is the key.

I am not diminishing the financial impact many farmers suffered, and for some, it will take a few years to recover.

I also acknowledge the emotional toll.

In my view, farming businesses should pat themselves on the back, as they managed to extract pretty good production results from an extra tough year.

Some businesses will look back and be thankful for 2024, as it forced them to drill down and improve their business model.

This analysis will reap rewards in future years.