In this episode of the Risk-Wise Podcast, Jake Giles sits down with Paul Schafer from the Kimbra district on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula to unpack how his farming business is evolving in response to changing conditions.

Paul shares insights into his mixed farming operation at Pinkawillinie and Caralue , where wheat, barley and medic pastures have long been the foundation — alongside sheep. But in recent years, that balance has shifted, with lentils becoming a more prominent part of the rotation and sheep numbers scaled back.

The conversation explores the drivers behind those decisions, from labour efficiency and workload across large paddocks to profitability and lifestyle considerations. Paul also reflects on how their system has changed over time, including increased use of contractors and expansion into new country to spread risk.

With timely rainfall across the region, Jake and Paul also discuss how the season is shaping up — from soil moisture and crop planning through to the real-time decisions farmers are making around inputs, timing and uncertainty.

It’s an honest and practical look at how one farming business is adapting its strategy while balancing risk, opportunity and the realities of farming in a low rainfall environment.

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