Farmers face tough conditions as drought-like weather and water shortages take hold

Farmers across Victoria are struggling with water shortages, rising costs and concerns about when a seasonal break will arrive.

Farmers are holding on to hope for a timely autumn break to replenish stock water and boost winter cropping, as almost half of Victoria faces drought-like conditions.

Livestock producers are seeking agistment, and areas from the NSW Riverina to the Western District in Victoria are hand feeding.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s declaration of “severe rainfall deficiency” in most parts of western Victoria and South Gippsland has heightened concerns for farmers who are worried about the availability of stock water.

The BOM drought statement also reveals that areas of South Australia, including the Yorke and Eyre peninsulas, have experienced the “lowest on record” rainfall levels.

Major water storages in Victoria are dropping with Lake Hume at 30 per cent of capacity, compared to 74 per cent 12 months ago.

It has dropped close to 25 per cent since the start of the year.

Harry Lawson of Lawson Angus said conditions at their Yea property were “terrible”, with a lot of hand feeding and more than 3000 cattle put in containment.

At Hay in the Riverina, Elders branch manager Andrew Low said farmers were supplementary feeding sheep.

Since Saturday, 15mm had fallen to the north of the region at Ivanhoe and Cobar but only small amounts were recorded south of Hay.

“It is welcome, and people were struggling for water; it will hopefully help to put some water in dams,” Mr Low said.

“We are not going to change the course of history with this small amount of rain, and it doesn’t rain grass.”

Commission buyer Graeme Ward says feedlot demand is underpinning the cattle market.

Albury-based commission buyer Graeme Ward said the feedlot demand and better seasonal conditions in northern NSW and southern Queensland were underpinning the cattle market.

“The market is holding pretty strong for the way the season is,” he said.

“It was a very strong sale at Myrtleford last Friday and there was a lot of demand for the feedlot-weight cattle.”

The young cattle market has dropped under the weight of numbers, with Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Young Cattle Indicator falling 7.71c/kg in a week to settle at 343.09c/kg based on 17,053 cattle selling.

In contrast the Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator experienced a rise of 21.30c/kg in the past week to settle at 665.32c/kg.

Darren Smith and Ash Jackson with his young son Tim pictured on the boundary of Ash's farm at Patchewollock and Wyperfield National Park. Picture: Glenn Milne

Darren Smith at Patchewollock said 30mm of rain late on Sunday was the biggest fall at his farm since early November.

“Our costs are killing us and we’re going to have to have a good season to make it all work,” he said.

Mr Smith also runs sheep and cattle and said the “stock side of things is a worry”.

“We’ve got bugger all stubble feed and it’s going to be interesting to see what happens,” he said.

He owns another property in the southwest near Cavendish where it remains exceptionally dry.

“Dams are dry and the quality of water is what you need to be careful of,” he said.

“If it turns ordinary you will lose stock quick.”

Greg Gall at Goorambat in the state’s northeast said he received 1mm of rain and a dust storm, and nothing was on the horizon.

“We are hoping for rain, but it is still reasonably early. This area hasn’t had rain since harvest time last year,” he said.

“Our dams are empty, and we are lucky we are on a pipeline to provide stock water; otherwise, we would be in trouble,” he said.

Maintaining confidence about the season, Simon Morrison from near Walpeup, said he had “good subsoil moisture”.

“It’s mainly carried over from that really wet finish to last year,” he said.

“People with sheep are struggling to feed them and are offloading them.

“But from a cropping point of view we’re pretty comfortable with where we are sitting.

“I think we need only 20mm in a month’s time and everyone will be well away.”

. Richard Konzag says South Australia remains dry. Picture: Matt Turner.

Northern NSW farmer Shane Taunton said the forecast of up to 100mm of rain in his area didn’t pan out.

“We have had about 6mm so far,” said the Moree cropping farmer.

“The dams are at the lowest levels they have been for a long time.”

South Australian farmer Richard Konzag of Mallala said the last rain of more than 1mm to fall in his district was on December 6, when 2.2mm was recorded.