Stacey Lee: Adelaide has had a good soak but our farmers still desperately need good rain
AS Adelaideans attempt to dry off after a soggy week, the same can’t be said for our farmers, writes Stacey Lee.
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AS Adelaideans attempt to dry off after a soggy week the same can’t be said for our farmers.
We are often under the misconception that when it rains in the city our farmers are also getting a drink.
But unfortunately, as we’ve come to learn, that’s not the case.
Despite parts of the state receiving their best rainfall in months during the past week, overall, it’s been a hot and dry year for South Australia.
We’ve seen unusual and record-breaking warm conditions so far for 2018 and it doesn’t look like that will change in the near future.
I know, it doesn’t feel like it right now and you’re probably sitting there in a coat and scarf reading this saying: “What is this woman on about? Warm? Who’s she kidding?”
But the reality is that parts of our country are seeing the worst drought conditions in half a century.
Bureau of Meteorology statistics show parts of SA have had the hottest first six months of the year on record. And last month was the driest July since 1999 — our state’s overall monthly rainfall was 55 per cent below average.
So while we city dwellers are wishing the rain away our farmers are desperate for it.
Little or no rain fell across northern pastoral districts while those in the central agricultural districts including the eastern Eyre Peninsula and mid north saw below average falls last month.
The focus of the drought reporting over the past few weeks has been on NSW and Queensland, and rightly so.
The latest seasonal update shows that NSW is now 100 per cent in drought as is more than 50 per cent of Queensland.
This is resulting in failing crops, water shortages and a diminishing supply of fodder to sustain stock.
But some of our farmers closer to home are suffering too and many here don’t realise just how bad it actually is.
They’re experiencing drought conditions as well and, while they may not be getting as much publicity as their eastern state counterparts, they need our help too.
Earlier in the week the Federal Government announced a $190 million dollar drought-relief plan which won’t fix the problem but will definitely help.
For those eligible the first payment of $6000 will be paid next month and the second will come in March next year. It also includes additional support for mental health and rural financial-counselling services. But it seems as if there are thousands of South Australian farming families eligible, and they may not even know.
Primary Producers SA executive chairman Rob Kerin says there are about 3000 families in SA who would qualify for the payments but so far only 700 or so have applied.
“We are recommending that any farmers doing it tough should check their eligibility for the Farm Household Allowance,” says Mr Kerin.
“If eligible we would urge them to apply,” he says.
We know the stigma that comes with asking for help, particularly for men in rural areas. It’s not easy to do but we need our farmers to know it’s OK to speak up and ask for help.
We, as a state and a nation, want to help.
“They shouldn’t feel as if they’re a burden — they’ve paid plenty of taxes over the years,’’ Mr Kerin says. One of the ways we can help is to donate to buyabale.com.au
The organisation takes donations for a range of different things including buying a bale of hay to feed cows, diesel to transport the hay or gift vouchers to help put food on the tables of those who have put food on our tables for so many years.
Buy A Bale says money raised in certain communities will stay in those communities and they’re also responsible for the Parma for A Farmer campaign with which we’ve seen so many local pubs and clubs getting on board.
It doesn’t matter how you donate, the main thing is that we do donate, because our farmers need us right now.
-Stacey Lee is the Adelaide Reporter for Sky News.