Need for Feed: Hay bales sent by Gippsland farmer to NSW, Queensland

Flood-devastated farmers in NSW and Queensland have been thrown a lifeline in the form of hay bales sent north by a Victorian grower.

Rob Prentice from Gippsland with some of the 600 hay bales he has donated to flood-affected Queensland and NSW farmers. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Helping out fellow farmers in NSW and Queensland who have been devastated by floods is a no-brainer for Gippsland grower Rob Prentice.

Mr Prentice, in partnership with Need for Feed, has sent about 600 bales of hay from his Buffalo farm from last season to growers in need.

“Last week they took up 15 semi-trailers from Bega up to NSW,” Mr Prentice said.

“We grow snow peas down in Gippsland and we had a hard season like everyone else – but you hear about the buggers up north that lost everything and our hard season is a good season compared to that.

“We thought well we have this hay, and we’ve downsized our cattle, so we might as well send it to someone who can benefit from it.”

He said the donation all came down to “a mate looking after a mate”.

“Us farmers don’t ask for charity and sometimes you need to just make that step to donate, that’s what we do,” Mr Prentice said.

“We are here to feed a nation and feed a world and we do a good job at it, when people are desperate you need to help them.

“Working with the Country Fire Association, I have seen what fire does but with floods it doesn’t matter if your rich or poor they just take you out.

“It would rip your heart out.”