Spring bloom begins as farmers warn the public to keep off private property

You can look, but don’t touch. That’s the warning to the public as South Australian paddocks turn a beautiful hue of yellow this week.

The state’s canola crops have flowered up to three weeks ahead of schedule — a happy result of a wetter-than-average winter.

But farmers have already reported instances of trespassers jumping fences and entering paddocks, mostly tourists seeking the perfect picture.

While the grain industry doesn’t want to discourage people from snapping, sharing and posting images of the stunning crops, it’s asking them to do so from behind the fence.

“South Australia’s flowering canola crops are an incredible sight, and we completely understand why people want to stop and take a photo,” Grain Producers SA CEO Brad Perry said.

“Just don’t go over the fence. We don’t want canola crops trampled. We want them to be harvested and sent for export,”

“We’re about nine to 10 per cent up on current estimates. And what I’m hearing from grain producers is that it could actually be bigger than that,” Perry said.

It comes after much of regional SA endured drought conditions between 2023 and 2025.

This year, more than 50 per cent of the state recorded above-average rainfall in June and July, with August also on track for similar results.

“It’s quite unusual to see this much flowering on canola while it’s still winter,” Perry said.

Once spring arrives and temperatures begin to climb, the colour of the crops will start to change.

Just remember — pull over somewhere safe, stay on public land, respect fences and private property, and leave the crop as you found it.