Governments need to offer SA farmers effective financial support if they want to save the people that feed this nation | Casey Treloar

If farmers are going to get through this drought, then politicians will need change their spots and do something for others rather than votes, writes Casey Treloar.

Agriculture is one of the biggest employers in the state. However, while staff take home a healthy salary, farm owners struggle to put food on their own table. Picture: Supplied

Hearts are breaking and lives are being ruined across South Australia as a slow-burning natural disaster makes its mark.

My family may no longer have the family farm but, because of the drought, I’m filled with dread about the future of food production in this once-prosperous state.

As the owner of 30 dairy cattle, I’m booking a truck to move half the herd to northern Victoria in a bid to ease the pressure on the farmer who looks after them. It’s no longer fair that I ask him to look after my cattle when he can barely feed his own.

Agriculture is one of the biggest employers in the state. However, while staff take home a healthy salary, farm owners struggle to put food on their own table – all while desperately trying to produce food for everyone else.

Casey Treloar said the Albanese governments $2m financial counselling package for SA farmers was “a lacklustre response”. Picture: Kym Smith

It leaves us with the serious risk of losing multi-generational farms forever.

A dairy farmer recently revealed he’d given the keys of his gun cabinet to a neighbour. We can all work out what that means.

Reports show farmers are finally seeking mental health services.

But maybe it’s the kind of support that wouldn’t be needed if not for the stress and pressure of running a business on the land, while banks, creditors and local businesses are circling. What happened to “Prevention is better than cure”?

Surely, we wouldn’t have to spend so much on mental health services if farmers felt they were being adequately supported.

History tells us it’s not “sexy” for governments – state or federal – to support rural Australia. Labor doesn’t attract votes from those who work on the land.

But primary producers are begging them to put differences aside and deliver real aid before it’s too late.

While it is “sexy” to fund sports and tourism, they don’t feed families. Farmers do.

It was pleasing to see Agriculture Minister Julie Collins recently visiting SA on a “fact-finding mission”. Days later, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived for the first time since being re-elected.

This was finally the chance for all Labor leaders to stand up and offer something with substance. But what a let-down that was – a lacklustre response.

While farmers plead for immediate support, they were instead offered $2m in additional financial counselling.

Farmers are often too proud to admit they need help – but now they’re coming out in droves.

They don’t want free money, but it is money they need. Cashflow. Banks charge about 12 per cent for this.

There needs to be very low interest (2-3 per cent, unlike the 5.18 currently available from the federal drought package), or even no-interest loans.

And until political leaders can provide that, nothing will be sufficient to survive this crisis.

That cashflow support couldn’t be more important right now – to keep livestock fed, get seed and fertiliser in the ground, pay staff, and keep creditors off their backs until farm income can arrive.

Ms Treloar says low interest rate loans would go a long way to helping farmers get through the drought. Picture: Supplied

So, what about SA’s $73m drought package currently on offer? A lot of that money has been available since November 2024. As of May, only $20m had been spent.

If that doesn’t scream how inadequate the package is, I don’t know what does.

The biggest problem is red tape. A large chunk of that money is only available for infrastructure grants, meaning farmers have to match funding dollar-for-dollar. It’s money farmers simply don’t have right now.

For the few who can, you need to invest hours of work with the local accountant to work out how to access that money. Even after that, it can take months for it to be paid.

Another major issue right now is our state borders. SA has run out of hay – it is only available from interstate.

In Western Australia, trucks are ready to bring much-needed hay here. But it’s not as simple as driving it in.

It requires a plant health import certificate, a biosecurity declaration, a detailed manifest submitted to PIRSA before arrival, and consignments inspected on arrival.

That all takes valuable time – time the farmer is fast running out of. In the meantime, livestock will continue to be culled at a record rate.

At press conferences, I keep hearing Premier Peter Malinauskas and Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven say “There’s no such thing as a drought declaration any more”.

While I understand the laws have changed, I don’t buy the fact that more assistance can’t be delivered. There must be more levers to pull.

This drought isn’t just crippling farmers, it’s hurting businesses in towns, too.

One rural business has been forced to borrow an extra $1m from the bank just to stay afloat, because farmers owe them so much money. I can guarantee they’re not the only ones.

We also need to address headlines suggesting milk prices will soar if nothing changes. What a load of crap.

If consumers end up paying higher prices at the checkout, you can bet your bottom dollar the money won’t be going to drought-stricken farmers.

It will only inflate the profits of supermarkets that already have so much to answer for when it comes to screwing the farmer.

So, I leave you with this final thought. Think about each meal you’ve had today, and where that food comes from.

It’s not from the checkout, it’s from our farmers. Surely, they deserve a fairer go, to keep your bellies full.

Casey Treloar is a reporter and presenter with 7NEWS Adelaide