Drought-stricken farmer Peter Wilson sells off cows and fears for the future

The crippling drought has forced this farmer to cut his stock numbers in half, with fears the dry could spell the end of a strong and long farming bloodline.

Farming runs deep in the bloodlines of Yorke Peninsula beef and grain producer Peter Wilson.

Mr Wilson, 54, is a fourth-generation farmer on one side of the family tree and the eighth on another branch.

But he’s concerned about the viability of working the land for subsequent generations in the wake of last year’s crippling drought and skyrocketing input costs.

“We’re in an area that is normally pretty reliable, but in the current situation it makes you question if one of the boys wants to come home, how are they going to stay viable,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson has been forced to reduce his cattle numbers by half to about 200 in the past six months and fears that this number will fall to fewer than 100 if there is no significant rain by the end of April.

His property, between Minlaton and Brentwood on the southern Yorke Peninsula, received just 180mm of rain last year, compared with a long-term average of about 380mm.

Farmer Peter Wilson on the Yorke Peninsula. Picture: Brett Hartwig

He is one of several farmers called Peter, who The Advertiser tracked down for a campaign to raise awareness about one of the harshest droughts in SA’s history.

The For Pete’s Sake campaign aims to capture the attention of the Peter who runs the state – Premier Peter Malinauskas – and is urging the state government to substantially increase a $18m support package announced in November.

Mr Wilson said last year’s cropping season was up there with his worst ever and he would need to make some ­serious decisions about farm debt if the drought continued.

The decision to sell stock because of a lack of feed and water had significant financial implications and it would take years to rebuild cattle numbers, he said.

The mental health of the farming community was starting to suffer.

“You certainly try to keep yourself busy and talk to people and do all the things they (mental health experts) say, but you certainly notice that people aren’t real cheerful at the moment,” he said.

“People are a bit down in the dumps … and a good rain will certainly sort that out.”

Mr Wilson said the land was so dry that he had become reluctant to drive across paddocks more than necessary for fear of creating a dust storm. “Even in our scrub areas, even the boxthorns are dying which I haven’t seen before,” he said.

Mr Wilson rated the state government’s response to the drought crisis as “very poor” and urged Premier Peter ­Malinauskas to visit affected farmers.

“He needs to have a look around and realise how bad it actually is. It just feels like the whole state government hasn’t done anything.”

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said she and the Premier had met with farmers and all ministers attended a country cabinet meeting at Two Wells.

The government had established a drought advisory committee, and run eight drought roundtables across the state and created an $18m drought support package, Ms Scriven said.

“I have also met regularly with peak industry bodies and have met with regional councils,” she said. “We look forward to additional discussions in coming days as we formulate additional assistance.”

Originally published as Drought-stricken farmer Peter Wilson sells off cows and fears for the future