Fair Go For Our Regions: Peterborough community calls for help following drought pain

Looking out across his parched property, Peterborough sheep farmer Neil Sleep says the drought sweeping across Australia is the worst he had seen since he began farming at 15.

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Looking out across his parched property, Peterborough sheep farmer Neil Sleep says the drought sweeping across Australia is the worst he had seen since he began farming at 15.

“This is worse than the 1982 drought, that’s for sure,” Mr Sleep said.

“We’ve probably gone back six years compared to where we were financially, because of the drought.”

Mr Sleep had enough stored hay for two dry years, but in July, was forced to begin buying feed for his animals.

He has also had to sell hundreds of sheep, meaning in future, his business will face a lack of breeding stock.

Conditions have been worsened, he said, by the wild dogs preying on his animals and kangaroos eating through pastures.

“We had a dingo here in July and he killed about 300 sheep,” Mr Sleep said.

But it wasn’t just the farmers doing it tough in the Mid North during the drought.

There were flow on effects for the entire community, which sits just north of Goyder’s Line — the east-west marker across the state that points to whether land is likely to support cropping due its amount of annual rainfall.

“There’s a number of businesses in the main street that have closed down because of the dry times,” Mr Sleep said.

Sheep farmer Neil Sleep has been hand feeding his stock since July. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Peterborough Mayor Ruth Whittle said her district was last year dismayed to hear it was not eligible for up to $1 million from the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.

The Government has injected millions into drought-affected areas across the country, to help pay for projects to stimulate communities, such as upgrades to sports grounds.

“Other towns are doing things and we can’t — it’s just a bit sad,” Ms Whittle said.

“We’re the lowest socio-economic community in SA outside of the APY Lands and we weren’t considered.”

Councils can apply for grants of up to $1 million to fund local infrastructure projects and other drought-relief projects — but only if the Federal Government invites them to seek money through the scheme.

However, The Advertiser understands Peterborough is among communities being considered for an extension of the program.

“It’s a tough time here,” Ms Whittle said.

“These farmers … are carrying water every day and not attending things with their families because they don’t have the time and cash dollars.”

A Federal Government spokesman said criteria for districts’ eligibility for the fund was based on factors including average quarterly rainfall and reliance on agricultural employment.

“The Government is closely monitoring the situation across SA, including through direct feedback from local Liberal (Grey) Member Rowan Ramsey, about which further areas in South Australia should be included in the Drought Communities Program,” he said.

There were 17 areas across the state already eligible for the program including Cleve, Kimba, Mount Remarkable, Loxton/Waikerie and Clare and Gilbert Valleys.

Colin Byles, chief executive of Northern Areas Council, based in Jamestown, said his district would spend its $1 million in drought assistance funding on upgrades to swimming pool change rooms, toilets and stormwater infrastructure.

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MEET THE NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS

By Erin Jones

A NEW generation of farmers is helping reinvigorate Kangaroo Island’s agriculture industry, bringing increased expertise, youth and families to the island.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the average age of South Australian farmers is 55, but 16km across the sea, Kangaroo Island is believed to be bucking the trend.

Hannah Robins, 36, left KI to study and create a career in agriculture, before being lured back to the family farm, Turkey Lane Merinos, in 2017.

“Everybody is encouraged to leave the island to study or get a trade, but a third of our class is back now, purely for agriculture,” Mrs Robins, of Parndana, said.

“It’s a fantastic place for us to grow up and we enjoyed our childhood and hope our kids can have the same.”

Farmer Hannah Robins pauses for breath amid work at her family farm on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Matt Loxton

The new-generation farmers bring expertise in livestock, soil biology and genetics helping value-add to an industry worth more $87 million, according the most recent data.

“There’s lots of people within five years below or older than me that are managing or have taken over a farm or bought their own land,” Mrs Robins said. “They’re really progressive farmers, too.

“Here on this farm, we’re focused on our genetics and we’re now breeding rams that are in the top 1 per cent of Australia.”

Mrs Robins, who previously managed a saleyards in Swan Hill, is working alongside her father, John Symons, and will eventually take over the farming operation.

Agriculture Kangaroo Island chairman Rick Morris represents half of the island’s 300 farmers and said the younger demographic had definitely value-added to their industry.

“Whether it’s part of succession planning or farms changing hands, there are some savvy business owners who are monitoring the business health with benchmarking,” Mr Morris said.

“Our membership base is pushing the boundaries in terms of the latest technology and they are hungry for information. A lot of them are very well-educated and want to run the best business they can.”

Mr Morris, who returned to the island himself 20 years ago, said livestock in particular had seen advances.

“For example, we’re able to map fertility of the soil hectare by hectare and apply fertilisers and soil conditioners according to those results, becoming more economical,” he said.