Braidwood district farm dams are empty or at very low levels. The last significant rain was in February and feed is scarce.
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Local Land Services (LLS) told The Times that at this stage there has not been a large scale de-stocking by farmers but many were having to hand feed.
LLS agricultural adviser Helen Smith said the long range weather forecast appeared to show that significant rain in the district was unlikely before about February, which was not promising for spring pasture growth.
“There is some assistance available to farmers but it depends on a number of factors and it is best for individual land owners to contact the service for individual advice,” she said. “Even if we get rain in the next couple of months it will not benefit pasture growth but may put some water in the dams and help with subsoil moisture.
“Merino farmers are tending to hang onto their sheep but will need to feed them till well into spring and it is looking pretty grim.”
It seems that cattle producers are looking very seriously at whether to hang onto their stock or sell them before they lose too much condition. Others are looking at feeding through winter.
Brian Bopping from Ballalabah said he sold off 45 steers in early February as the pastures started to dry out but then they got about 70mm of rain and he wondered if he had done the right thing. “As it looks now I am glad I made the decision then,” he said.
Martin May said they would see what happened over the next few months but they would try and hang onto their sheep.
David Edgley said he was already considering option D and at last Thursday’s Landmark trade day was looking at cattle feeding efficiencies, though the farm was not his only income stream.
Terry Laurie and Tony Hole said their properties were looking pretty dry. Mr Laurie sold of his Angus cross weaners recently and was looking a further destocking.
Cattle farmer Sue Eding said in her 20 years on her property outside Braidwood she had never had empty dams.
“The sad thing is most of the farmers are having to get rid of their core breeding stock it would take at least three years to replace them,” Ms Eding said.
“Nearly everyone is hand feeding their stock now.”
Concerned for the well-being of her friends and neighbours, last weekend Ms Eding invited Monaro MP John Barilaro as well as rural financial counsellor Beverly Houterman to meet with farmers doing it tough.
Mrs Houterman, who has been helping farmers access assistance in the form of interest free loans and other forms of assistance, said it was important for farmers to engage early.
She said farmers are doing it particularly tough at the moment due to the fact that drought is no longer being classified as a natural disaster when it comes to funding.
“Drought is being considered, unless there is an extraordinary thing, as a normal environment hazard so there are no grants available,” she said.
Mrs Houterman said the situation is so dire that some farmers are saying they may have to sell pregnant cattle to abattoirs.
Ms Eding, who runs Poll Hereford cattle, said she believed drought should be treated like a natural disaster.
“They [farmers] have to jump through hoops to get it [funding and it is nonsense, other countries have subsidies during drought,” she said.
“They [farmers] love their animals and they don’t want to see their animals dying.”
As it currently stands, according to the Department of Primary Industries’ Combined Drought Indicator, most of Braidwood is classified as in drought, while the wider Palerang region is in drought onset.
Mrs Houterman said farmers should remember that they can still apply for assistance if they are in the drought onset region.
For more information on rural financial support, call counsellor Beverly Houterman on 4832 0070.