Southwest Victoria farmer Sam Andrew says green drought covers economic woe

Sam Andrew is one of several farmers that wants to bust the myth they weren’t prepared for the green drought. Here’s why.

Sam Andrew vividly recalls farming through the dust and dried-up debris of the NSW millennium drought.

Comparing the pair, the Camperdown region farmer says the southwest Victorian green drought is far worse.

“Because people can see a normal drought, they’re driving along and they take notice,” Ms Andrew said.

“With a green drought, people aren’t as aware. Even in the country towns and cities like Camperdown or Warrnambool, if you drive along the highway, you see the green grass and think it’s alright. Problem is, that grass isn’t growing.”

Ms Andrew was one of several farmers to relay her concerns to Rural Assistance Commissioner Peter Tuohey during his recent tour of the southwest drought zone.

The Commissioner reported his findings to Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence, who is set to also visit southwest Victoria in the coming weeks.

Operating a dairy farm at Bookaar with husband Neil Dickson, Ms Andrew said one of the myths she wanted to bust was that drought-hit farmers hadn’t properly prepared.

She said the lack of grass growth meant their dairy herd had chewed through 18 months of fodder in less than nine months.

“With the milk price drop on July 1, we were $350,000 down - straight up,” Ms Andrew said. “That’s a big income cut without even taking the drought into account.

“We had 18 months of reserve feed at the start of the year. We prepared for dry conditions but this is officially the worst on record. We no longer have that reserve.

“We culled 100 cows from our milking herd. Even though we’ve been feeding quite heavily, 10 kilos through the rotary and the feed pad, we’ve had a 15 per cent drop in milk production. So increased costs with the feed with a lower milk price, drop in milking herd numbers — you can see why not only us, but many farmers are so squeezed.”

Dairy farmers Neil Dickson and Samantha Andrew Picture: Zoe Phillips

Further support for drought-affected farmers has yet to be announced by the Victorian Government, but Premier Jacinta Allan last week hinted that help was on the way.

“I know Agriculture Victoria is closely watching the (drought) situation,” the Premier told the Rural Press Club.

“Unless we get a spring break, it’s apparent that it’s going to be really challenging for those farmers and we’ll have those follow-up conversations with those communities.”