A GROUP of local livestock agents have come up with a plan to give Eudunda farmers who are facing their driest season in more than 35 years something to look forward to.
They have organised a community forum later this month featuring The Unbreakable Farmer, Warren Davies, Kyabram, Vic, who will share his experiences of resilience and being a mental health advocate.
As little as 75 millimetres has fallen in the past 18 months and many sheep have been fed in containment areas for months.
It is difficult to see where crops have been sown, if at all.
Spence Dix & Co’s Daniel Doecke says the idea for the Dry Time Talk has “grown legs”, joining with Elders’ Paul Kilby and Landmark Pfitzner and Kleinig Eudunda’s Andrew Kleinig to put on the event.
“We are not dwelling on what we can’t do like make it rain, but what can we do as a community until we see some decent rains,” he said.
“We could be in for a long summer and autumn with not having a bank of feed going into the spring.
It is about trying to look forward not backwards.
- DANIEL DOECKE
“It is about trying to look forward not backwards.”
The area received between 10mm and 30mm in the past 10 days but is still well short of its average rainfall.
“Blokes out east are saying it is the driest since 1967, or at least 1982 – it is pretty bad,” Mr Doecke said.
Mr Doecke says while some farmers are trying to hold onto core breeding stock, many thousands of sheep have been sold off in the past few months.
The saving grace is unike previous droughts, prices have not plummeted, although the gap between store lambs and those in forward condition is widening each week.
“The blokes who have destocked early have done really well but there are clients who are running out of feed with stock only just good enough to sell,” he said.
“Every farm is in a different situation but they are all looking at not having much of an income.”
Other speakers for the Eudunda forum include Western NSW Division pastoralist Gus Whyte, who will discuss trading in the bush, and representatives from Rural Directions, Livestock SA and Barossa Lending Services.
“We had been thinking we might have 60 to 80 people but we are hoping it could be a lot more – it is open for anyone to come along,” he said.
The free event will be held on Thursday, August 30 at the Eudunda Town Hall from 9am to 2pm.
- Details: Bookings are essential by August 23 to eudundamerch@bigpond.com or 0407 808 789.
