Rural Aid will bring hay and water tanks to Inverell and Glen Innes next week, as New England farmers say recent rain has not undone the damage of a long dry spell.
The charity’s On the Frontline with Rural Aid tour will run from Monday, 2 November to Friday, 6 November, through the Hunter, northern NSW, and southern Queensland.
The week will include hay drops, water and water tank deliveries, and community visits, as well as chances for farmers to share their stories.
For New England farmer Ian Law, a recent hay delivery from Rural Aid has bought some much-needed breathing room.
The third-generation farmer runs sheep and cattle near Emmaville. He said a lack of rain had hit winter cropping and left little moisture in the ground for spring growth.
With feed supplies under pressure and costs rising, Law said the delivery would let him keep feeding his livestock for another two to three weeks.
“If we can get an extra two or three weeks out of some extra feed that has been delivered by Rural Aid, that’s magic,” Law said.
He said the effects of the dry were felt well beyond the farm gate. Farmers were spending less, so less money was moving through small towns, and local jobs were harder to find.
While recent rain has brought relief to some areas, conditions remain mixed. Some places are still dealing with the effects of the long dry, while others have been hit by flash flooding.
Rising fuel prices and the cost of keeping livestock fed and watered are also squeezing farm businesses.
“Every farmer has a story to tell, and those stories help Australians understand the realities of life on the land, the challenges people face and what keeps them going,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.
“Recent rain has brought welcome relief and renewed hope for many, but the impact of a prolonged dry period doesn’t disappear overnight.”
“Every region and farming operation is different, and our role is to listen, understand what farmers need and provide practical support as they navigate changing conditions.”
Just over the Queensland border at Glen Niven, cattle farmer Owen Wilmot is battling to keep his herd fed.
“It’s costing me roughly $3 a head per day to keep them alive,” Wilmot said.
A recent hay delivery from Rural Aid has helped ease the pressure. Mr Wilmot said the charity had also helped his family during an earlier drought, providing a water tank that made their household water supply more secure.
Ashford farmer Mal Peters, who helped set up the NSW Mental Health Network more than 30 years ago, said long stretches of hard conditions, including drought, could also take a toll on farmers’ mental wellbeing and the social ties that keep rural communities strong.
He said the support farmers receive can make a real difference.
“I would urge all corporates and private individuals who are making donations to channel their money through Rural Aid,” Peters said.
“The assistance goes to genuine farmers, those who rely on agriculture for their income.”
Rural Aid supports farmers and rural communities through hay deliveries, water tanks and water deliveries, financial assistance, mental health and wellbeing services, and community development programs.
Warlters said sharing farmers’ stories helped Australians understand how different life can be from one region to the next.
“Farming brings plenty of challenges, including drought, but there is also resilience, pride and a strong sense of community,” he said.
“We want to share those stories and give people a better understanding of what life on the land looks like, in the good times and the difficult ones.”
On the Frontline with Rural Aid will visit:
- Monday, 2 November: Singleton, hay drop
- Tuesday, 3 November: Inverell, water tank and water deliveries
- Wednesday, 4 November: Glen Innes, water tank deliveries, followed by a hay drop at Texas
- Thursday, 5 November: Inverell, hay drop
- Friday, 6 November: near Oakey, Queensland, visit to a hay-growing farm and hay transport operation
“Rural Aid relies on donations from the public to enable us to deliver practical support for farmers and their families,” Warlters said.
“Australians can play a part in helping farming families through difficult times and supporting the communities that feed our nation by buying a bale today.”
Donations can be made at buyabale.ruralaid.org.au or by calling 1300 327 624.
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