Western Vic farmers come together to discuss getting through tough conditions

More than 300 farmers came together to discuss getting through the toughest conditions in more than two decades, as they face a winter with little to no paddock feed. Here are some plans to help.

An aerial view of farmers at the field day.

More than 300 farmers gathered at a field day at Nareen on Tuesday afternoon to support each other and share ideas of how to deal with the toughest late break experienced in Western Victoria since 2005.

The event was hosted by the Glenelg Grass Growers Best Wool/Best Lamb Group at Richard and Sardi Edgar’s West Cuyuac property, Nareen, in the state’s far west.

It comes as the region, along with much of South Australia, suffers through one of the driest autumns in decades and no autumn break, with many farmers now containment feeding their flocks and facing a winter with little to no paddock feed.

The Weekly Times reported at the start of May that many regions faced critically low soil moisture levels and a shortage of fodder.

Now, as June fast approaches and with it colder temperatures with no significant rain forecast, farmers are preparing to lamb down in the worst conditions seen in at least two decades.

Speakers discussed strategies around managing lambing ewes during a late break and the best way to set up in paddock feeders in containment areas, as well as feed budgeting.

One of the key speakers, Tim Leeming, Paradoo Prime, Pigeon Ponds, told the gathered farmers experience showed shelter and small mobs sizes during late, cold breaks was incredibly important for twin bearing lambing ewes. This could help to prevent them walking away from their new lambs in search of feed or shelter.

He said conditions now were the worst experienced in the region since a similar late break in 2005.

Farming leader Tim Leeming.

On the topic of mental health, agribusiness consultant Ken Solly – who said he himself suffered and recovered from a breakdown during a tough period – spoke on the importance of managing the mental load of a dry period.

He told the crowd to keep in mind the current situation was not of their doing and encouraged them to prioritise their physical and mental health first, followed by family, business, personal priorities, friendships and then community commitments.

Mr Solly advised farmers under stress not to be afraid to ask for help when needed, and to see that as a strength, and to sit down and talk to partners or staff and “work out a plan of things you will and will not” do to manage the stress.

Getting off the farm – even if it was for fish and chips with friends – was also important for mental health, he said, as well as other “happiness chemicals” that could be boosted from activities like socialising and helping others, sun exposure and walking, good sleep and laughing.

Mr Solly added farmers should to also try to keep the problems in perspective, and that extra expenditure, such as on feed to keep ewes in good condition score, could be spread over the next five years an that “burning a little equity may be the best way forward”.

“Keep working on your attitude … don’t let the situation get bigger than it is,” he said.

Vet Dr Jane Gaussen covered the major animal health considerations seen in pregnant ewes during a late break and what to look out for; including pregnancy toxaemia (driven by inadequate energy), milk fever (caused by low blood calcium in late pregnancy and early lactation), abortion outbreaks (many causes have increased risks due to close confinement of stock and trail and containment feeding or contaminated water) and acidosis.

Dr Gaussen said it was crucial farmers reached out to a livestock vet promptly when experiencing issues in their flocks with early intervention “often the most effective”.

“Many times there are government subsidies that we can get to cover the cost of laboratory testing, sometimes veterinary profession fees too,” Dr Gaussen said.

Treatment trials could also be helpful, particularly in hypocalcaemia cases.

“It is always good to have another set of eyes to look at the problem and troubleshoot,” she said.

Several speakers emphasised that spending on extra feed was rarely a waste of money to maintain ewes, through the tough period and so they would rejoin the following year.

Other sessions focused on pasture and agronomy approaches, including the benefits of using urea and Progibb when conditions allow to promote pasture growth.

Maize as a cost-effective feed source was also raised as a potential option.

Meanwhile, as farmers consider their plans for low pastures through winter across much of the Western District of Victoria and into South Australia, and even areas in the north East, as of Tuesday evening, Weatherzone was forecasting no significant rain for western Victoria until the May 30th onwards, when daily totals of 1-5mm were predicted.