Drought co-ordinator to visit Adelaide, miss SA’s drought-hit areas
THE national drought co-ordinator will visit Adelaide, but not SA’s drought-affected regions where farmers are being forced to handfeed animals or destock their properties.
THE national drought co-ordinator will visit Adelaide, but not SA’s drought-affected regions where farmers are being forced to handfeed animals or destock their properties.
Major-General Stephen Day will instead meet Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone and industry representatives in the city tomorrow to discuss the state’s conditions.
His visit coincides with today’s grain season update report showing a revised crop estimate of 5.8 million tonnes – well below the 10-year average of 7.9 million tonnes.
The estimate reflected the season’s dry conditions, with some Eyre Peninsula farmers saying the lack of rain contributed to the worst conditions in more than 40 years. Farmers with crops may capitalise on high prices due to unprecedented demand from interstate, but our pig, sheep, dairy and chicken industries are being priced out of the market.
The crop estimates report, which was extended to include information on fodder stocks and its impact on livestock industries, found farmers were increasingly using sheep pellets to feed stock.
“The feedback we are receiving is that in most of the state, farmers are handfeeding livestock with grain and hay, and feed reserves are reported to be critically low, but new season hay will be available shortly,” Mr Whetstone said.
“In the rangeland zone to the north of the cropping areas, pastoralists have continued to reduce stock numbers due to depleted feed and/or water supplies.
“PIRSA animal health officers have been working with a number of farmers on stock weight.”
Mr Whetstone acknowledged the season was difficult and said drought-affected areas included the upper Eyre Peninsula, upper north, Murray Mallee, and pastoral areas.
He announced up to eight family and business support “scouts” or counsellors, would be based in, or near these regions to provide experienced, confidential support.
They will also work with Rural Financial Counselling Service to assist farmers with applications on the Federal Government’s Farm Household Allowance Scheme.
The program is modelled on the FaB Scout program used in the millennium drought, in 2009/10, which Mr Whetstone believed saved lives, relationships and families. Other new initiatives include working with Livestock SA to create a fodder register for farmers in need, working with SA Health to co-ordinate support services and undertaking an extensive fodder audit.