Fodder supply stacks up

But, this steadfast determination can leave some producers unwilling to ask for help when disaster strikes.

Mallala farmers Richard and Trish Konzag have been overwhelmed by donations to a hay depot established on their property, but say farmers have been less forthcoming about accepting much-needed stock feed.

“Hay is coming in from everywhere,” Mr Konzag said.

“We had a road train just roll up late on Monday night, and then we had another message left on our machine from someone who had 14 semi loads they wanted to deliver this week.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people who want to help. We’ve also had people offering to bring in a truck or trailer so they can take hay to people who don’t have the equipment to come and pick it up themselves because it’s been burnt.”

He said as of Tuesday, only nine producers had registered to receive hay through Livestock SA, which was coordinating fodder and agistment offers.

“It’s the country attitude not to ask for help, we all just say ‘she’ll be right’ – I’m guilty of it,” he said.

“At the end of the day, they’ve got livestock to look after and nothing to feed them with.

“People shouldn’t be afraid to say ‘yes’, people are being generous with their donations but that only works if people accept it.”

Mrs Konzag said they had seen many cases of ‘survivor’s guilt’ in the days since the fire.

“Everyone has been reluctant to accept help – be it hay or even donations of food – no matter how hard they’ve been hit,” she said. “They always think there’s someone worse off than them.”

Mr Konzag said hay donations would also be needed in coming months.

“If someone’s wanting to donate hay they’ve got in a shed, they don’t need to deliver it straightaway – it’d be safer in the shed than in my paddock, and there’ll be a need for feed for some time to come,” he said.

The Konzags had 700 hectares of land burnt in the fire, including 230ha of crop.