Stock feed drops aid SA drought-stricken farmers

All up, at least 850 tonnes of donated hay and 250t of drought pellets were dropped at the three locations, with a total value of about $350,000, raised through Rural Aid's Buy a Bale fundraising initiative.

Rural Aid general manager Wayne Thomson said the donation drops were often quite emotional.

"It's just lovely, because the farmers are so gracious and grateful for not just the hay, but the hug," he said.

Qantas donated $3 million to the rural charity in August last year, with some of the funds put towards supporting the Buy a Bale program, while many individuals and groups also dug deep to support farmers.

One such effort was from Adelaide brothers Toby and Ethan Hall, aged seven and 11 respectively, who raised $3000 from a concert at the Capri Theatre, Adelaide, and a further $6500 through busking, with the combined amount buying a semi-trailer load of hay.

Farmers also each received a $500 gift card from Rural Aid, to be used in any way.

"One lady very emotionally asked if we'd mind if she could use the money to get a haircut, because she'd been cutting her own hair in the mirror for 18 months," Mr Thomson said.

"It's just so tough."

Mr Thomson said most farmers had received about a month's worth of feed, and while the donations would not fix all problems, it was no less important to lend a helping hand, and gave farmers "a bit of a breather".

"If we said the donations weren't going to solve the problem, that sort of diminishes the fact that it is going to solve an immediate problem," he said.

Rural Aid also donated $26,000 worth of musical instruments to primary schools in Kapunda and Nuriootpa through the charity's Gift of Music program.

Morgan grazier Phil Zerner said hay donations to SA farmers were a "godsend", and were timed perfectly for his enterprise.

Mr Zerner's 1000 Merino ewes - which are joined to White Suffolks - are just starting to lamb, much later than their usual lambing time of March and April.

"I've postponed (lambing) because I didn't have the feed, and I wasn't game to make that decision to lamb and then not have the feed," he said.

"We want to look after our animals, and I hate seeing my stock suffering."

Mr Zerner hoped the feed would help him to carry his lambs through to spring.

"The hay is going to be a blessing for us to take us through that period of lambing and then we'll make decisions after that, we'll cross those bridges as we get to them," he said.

"This is a godsend, particularly in the fact that it's come right at this time, right on the peak of lambing, I couldn't ask for more."

Mick Ereckow, Mount Mary, said he had spent more than $75,000 on hay since September 2017.

"We've just about ruined ourselves buying hay, and to get a handout like this helps so much," he said.

Robert Stone, Mount Mary, received four tonnes of hay and about 1t of pellets at the Eudunda drop, and was grateful for those who had donated to the cause.

"It's so highly appreciated. It means so much to me," he said.

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