There's a reason why central Yorke Peninsula farming land runs at >$5000/ac and parts of southern Eyre Peninsula, mid-north (Clare, Freeling) aren't far off that either.
It's also true that the more marginal country is, the lower your average input cost - and by a long way! e.g. the far west SA growers I deal with are more than profitable at $250/mt APW.
Throw in FMDs and mixed farming practices and you have as good a chance as anyone at making a living.
No doubt there are parts of the country, less fortunate than the bulk of SA and lots of WA and VIC but overall, i think farming is becoming more and more profitable as farm practices improve, technology and science improve and consolidation within the farming community increases on-farm economies of scale.
