Farmers appeal for more aid as drought drags on in Gippsland

Cattle farmer Jim Geehman has lived through a few droughts in his time. But at 79, he reckons the dry spell strangling East Gippsland is like few before it.

Cattle farmer Jim Geehman has lived through a few droughts in his time. But at 79, he reckons the dry spell strangling East Gippsland is like few before it.

He could have thrown in the towel, of course. But then what would this farmer do?

No, says Mr Geehman. He prefers to slog it out beside his trusty mate, Kelly the dog, and the Hereford Shorthorns that kick up the topsoil on his property at Bengworden.

“You can’t make it rain by worrying,” he said.

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Mr Geehman manages 143ha that sit in the heart of a region where the drought conditions now rival those plaguing New South Wales farmers.

He has reduced his stock by half, and admits without rain he could have just 70 cows by winter.

East Gippsland cattle farmer Jim Geehman and his trusty dog Kell in Bengworden, Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

“You take what you can get but there isn’t much falling,” he said. “Three or four inches could make a difference, but hopefully not all at once.”

The Victorian Farmers’ Federation is repeating its appeal to Victorians not to forget the plight of those in the East Gippsland and Wellington shires. While there has been much goodwill from charities and support services, VFF president David Jochinke said things were getting desperate.

“The mental and physical strain on the farming community is immense,” he said. “It’s a moonscape out there.” Autumn rains are needed to ensure seed regeneration. One significant rain front could be all that is needed to wet the land and kickstart growing conditions.

“That’s the cruel nature of what we are up against,” he said. “We need that topsoil moisture now.”

Cattle farmer Jim Geehman, 79, reckons the dry spell that has strangled the land in East Gippsland is like few before. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Mr Jochinke said that in the meantime, farmers were ­making difficult decisions as they desperately juggled their books.

“There is a feeling of helplessness, that farmers are letting their families down to a degree. But the reality is circumstances like this are completely out of their hands.

“You can’t just make it rain. Their resilience is almost at breaking point,” he said.

The state government has issued more than $8.45 million in drought support grants for families hardest hit, but many farmers feel the money would have been better spent cutting rates for properties left almost barren after the long dry.

“The reality is no government or industry intervention will change anything … only rain will,” Mr Jochinke said.

Jim Geehman is waiting for rain.

Kelly the dog at the Bengworden cattle farm.

East Gippsland Shire Mayor Natalie O’Connell says the council will continue to press the state government to offer farmers rates relief.

“We are waiting for the Premier to respond to our request for assistance to provide a rate subsidy for East ­Gippsland farmers. A rate subsidy is something council cannot absorb on its own without impacts to other services, and we are committed to working with the state and federal governments on assistance for our primary producers,” Cr O’Connell said.

Interest-free periods are among the options offered to drought-affected ratepayers.

Weather bureau duty forecaster Steven McGibbony says the outlook for East Gippsland, which has been plagued by dry conditions for more than 18 months, is not good. It is likely to remain the driest part of the state.

“There is certainly no strong indication of the likelihood of above-average rainfall as we head into winter,” Mr McGibbony said.

And the Bureau says an El Nino that might develop late in autumn could mean drier conditions.

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