LOCAL farmers have called on the State and Federal Governments to provide assistance with the ongoing low rainfall in the region.

Autumn and winter are critical times for adequate rainfall for cropping, livestock and dairy production.

The majority of Victoria received only 20-60 per cent of its average rainfall during May, June and July.  

Henty based sheep and cattle farmer Shirley Menz said some farmers were getting desperate as sources for hay were running out.

While the recent ‘hay run’ at Merino (see page 17) was gratefully received, supply concerns across Western District were ongoing.

“We’ve had less than 20mm of rain for the month of July down here,” Ms Menz said earlier this week.

“We’re calling on the state and federal government to offer some provision.

“We’ve been sourcing fodder every day or every second day - it’s just taking so much time feeding out - there’s nothing else happening on farms - what we feed them is what they’ve been surviving on.

“We’ve been sourcing hay from a local contractor - but now we’re feeding them pellets - we can source them more readily, but we’ve still got to source hay and I’m not sure where we’ll source from next.

“Where we sourced the last lot from, they said there’s no more so I’m not really sure where we’ll get the next lot from.”

Ms Menz said she was speaking to Wannon MP Dan Tehan last weekend regarding the low rainfall and the need for assistance from government.

“He knows everyone is in the same boat - that we’re looking for assistance,” she said.

He spoke in the Federation Chamber recently and said, “In many parts of western Victoria, south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia, we haven’t had rain since January.”

“Obviously, we’re now in winter, and we have the makings of what is called a green drought.”

 Mr Tehan wrote to Federal agriculture minister, Murray Watt late last month on the need for drought assistance.

He said many farming enterprises had to feed livestock throughout the autumn and winter at considerable expense.

That, combined with increased mortgage repayments, cost-of-living and inflation was placing many under severe financial pressure.

“My understanding is there is a number of financial measures available for farmers experiencing drought like conditions, including zero interest loans,” Mr Tehan wrote.

He asked Mr Watt whether the current conditions in Western Victoria would qualify farmers for this assistance - to date there has been no response.

Victorian agriculture minister, Ros Spence was also contacted regarding what the State Government was doing for farmers in these tough times.

A Victorian Government spokesperson responded and said the government recognised that some farmers in the south-west were facing significant seasonal challenges.

“We are continuing to monitor conditions and are targeting supports to impacted farmers through a variety of programs and services,” they said.

“We encourage affected farmers to seek out support through Agriculture Victoria’s tailored programs and services, the Rural Financial Counselling Service and loans provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Regional Investment Corporation.”

The Regional Investment Corporation provides drought loans to assist farmers to prepare for, manage and recover from drought, with variable interest rates of 4.99 per cent and lower fee structures than commercial banks.

More information is available at: ric.gov.au/loans

Eligible farmers can also access the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) program - a fortnightly Commonwealth Government payment.