South Australian Government to set up working group to respond to drought conditions being experienced by communities across the state
THE South Australian government has established a working group to respond to the dry conditions being experienced by the state’s farmers and regional communities.
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THE South Australian government has established a working group to respond to the dry conditions being experienced by the state’s farmers and regional communities.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said the next eight to 10 weeks will be critical in determining how the season ends for rural producers.
“It is important government and industry work together to monitor how the South Australian growing season ends and have a plan around what support farmers and communities impacted by drought-like conditions are likely to need,” he said on Thursday.
SA has so far missed out on the worst of the big dry that has hit NSW and Queensland, but weather forecasters are watching the emergence of an El Nino weather event which could see hotter and drier conditions through spring and well into summer.
So far this year Adelaide has had 85 per cent of its average rainfall thanks to good falls over the past week.
Mr Whetstone said conditions over the next two months would determine if there would be adequate pasture growth for livestock producers through the summer.
“A number of pastoral areas of South Australia, such as the Eyre Peninsula and the Mallee, are facing a second season with minimal rainfall and it is important government works with industry and support agencies around support required,” the minister said.
“It’s important to note the recent rains hitting Adelaide and some regions are unlikely to have much immediate impact on feed in the most stressed agricultural areas given how late in the season these rains have come.
“Many of our farmers are prepared and doing all they can to manage these dry seasonal conditions.”
The new working group will include representatives from Primary Producers SA, Grain Producers SA, LIvestock SA, and Rural Business Support who will come together with government officials as well as those from the Bureau of Meteorology.
The government also urged farmers to take advantage of existing services including financial counselling, allowance and concessional loan schemes and the farm debt mediation service.