NSW flood-ravaged dairy farmers battling to rebuild in ongoing wet

Consistent poor conditions have continued to affect herd health long after the worst of the recent floods have passed. Here’s how you can help.

Tatham dairy farmer Maureen McDonald is slowly rebuilding her flood-ravaged farm, taking it “one day at a time”. Photo: Elise Derwin

Ongoing rain is hampering the NSW Northern Rivers Region’s flood recovery, with dairy farmers battling mastitis, soggy silt-covered paddocks and a shortage of spare parts.

Casino dairy farmer Terry Toohey, who is co-ordinating rural support, said “mastitis is running rampant” and appealed to veterinary drug companies to donate treatments.

“There’s just one company getting some mastitis treatments out there at the moment,” he said,

adding that ongoing rain also meant the country remained wet, compounding the stress of animals.

“Hay is available and a nutritionist has come in, plus a hoof trimmer to help with lameness,” Mr Toohey said

Lismore dairy farmer Paul Weir finally got mains power back on this week, after a fortnight relying on a generator.

Mr Weir said BlazeAid volunteers had been out to help him clean up fences and builders had stripped the plasterboard out of the lower level of his home to let it all dry out.

“There’s plenty of mastitis, but we’re getting on top of it, drying cows,” he said. “We’re getting there.”

As for his cow losses, Mr Weir said 62 were dead with another 34 still missing.

“There was a picture of one of mine on Facebook last night, as people get back in as the (Richmond) River drops,” he said.

Mr Toohey said one sugar cane grower on the lower reaches of the river was feeding 150 cattle “and he doesn’t own them”, which is a challenge given he’s not set up to run cattle.

Tatham dairy farmer Maureen McDonald, whose farm was completely inundated, said she and husband Steve were taking the recovery “one day at a time”.

“You can’t roll over,” she said. “You have to keep on moving forward.

The McDonalds have had BlazeAid and defence force crews out on the property helping with the clean up and fencing, while the couple focus on herd health, milking and feeding out.

“(Fodder) donations have come in and we’re expecting a load of silage today (Monday),” Mrs McDonald said.

Mr Toohey added that one of the biggest issues was difficulty sourcing spare parts for all the dairy and farm machinery that had been inundated.

“Lismore is the hub for all the industries on the North Coast,” Mr Toohey said. “Something as simple as a bearing that used to take about half an hour to get now takes three or four days.”

As for financial assistance NSW farmers are getting support from their NORCO dairy co-operative to lodge application forms to obtain flood recovery grants of up to $75,000.

Wrecked – Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits Norco’s Lismore ice-cream factory, which had 4m of water sweep through it. Picture: Elise Derwin

Donations or offers to volunteer with BlazeAid can be made HERE.

Other groups offering support include Drought Angels, with farmers able get relief payments of $1500 by calling 07 4662 7371 or by filling in the form HERE, while donations can be made HERE.

The Queensland and NSW Government is also asking farmers to fill out damage assessment forms to help them direct assistance, they can be found:

Click HERE for Queensland farmers.

Click HERE for NSW farmers

Support lines also operate in Queensland on 13 25 23

NSW on 1800 814 647