Struggling farmers call on the state and federal governments to reinstate ‘drought declaration’

DESPERATE farmers struggling to survive the longest dry since records began in 1900 are preparing to sell up or close their farm gates to find work elsewhere — but drought is no longer declared a “natural disaster”.

DESPERATE farmers struggling to survive the longest dry since records began in 1900 are preparing to sell up or close their farm gates to find work elsewhere — but drought is no longer declared a “natural disaster”.

Walgett grazier Jon Pocknell’s 9510ha farm is so fertile “you could fatten an iron post in an average year”, but his paddocks are now so bare he will stop farming in weeks.

He recently sold 3000 of his dorper sheep to pay for hay trucked up from Victoria to keep his prize breeders alive — but it wasn’t enough.

Farmer Jon Pocknell recently sold 3000 sheep to pay for hay to feed prize breeders alive. And if rain doesn’t come soon, he’ll have nothing left. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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Last week he cut his 2000-strong flock by half again and within three weeks will have nothing left. At that point, Mr Pocknell will go in search of work.

“I would have sold sheep by now if I knew just how bad it was going to get but no one predicted it’d get this dry,” Mr Pocknell said.

These days, the 53-year-old climbs mulga trees and lops off branches so sheep can feed on the leaves.

Before the drought, his property, near Walgett, was full of green grass. This is some of his land in 2011. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Fast forward to today, it is just dirt, with barely any signs of life. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Many farmers in the state’s northwest don’t have a blade of green grass and desperately need at least 100mm of rain before the clay soil will be damp enough to begin to sustain adequate pasture growth. But the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest climate outlook predicts the next three months will be drier than normal.

Yesterday, The Sunday Telegraph launched a campaign for immediate financial assistance for drought-stricken and debt-laden farmers, who are currently offered a suite of loans by the state government. It also called for the federal government to relax asset tests on the Farm Household Allowance, an income support payment for farming families.

Drought is no longer a declared natural disaster, which has incensed farmers who feel their plight is being ignored.

“When you’ve been in drought this long, the last thing I want is to borrow more money,” Mr Pocknell said.

“More loans only digs a deeper hole. Drought’s as bad as fire or flood but it kills communities by stealth and it needs to be called what it is — a natural disaster.”

Peak agricultural groups NSW Farmers, the Country Women’s Association of NSW and the National Farmers’ Federation have called on the state and federal governments to reinstate “drought declaration”.

His sheep are earing clover burr’s in desperation. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Associations and farmers like Jon are wanting the drought to be called a “natural disaster”. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Deputy premier John Barilaro defended his record but didn’t agree to an interview with The Daily Telegraph because he was on holiday. He said he’d spoken with farmers in Tamworth, Armidale, Broken Hill, Blayney, Scone and Dubbo over the last six months.

He said he’d fought for $600 million in drought relief measures in last month’s state budget, including one-off loans of up to $50,000 for fodder and water transport, new doppler radars for weather monitoring and $4 million for mental health.

“I’ve been to every corner of NSW — no one has done more to fight for the cause of farmers,” he said.

And Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who toured drought-ravaged farms in NSW last month, has hinted at more support after extending the Farm Household Allowance from three to four years.

“We are continuing to discuss additional measures,” Mr Turnbull said.