DROUGHT is a natural disaster simply not being recognised by anybody in Canberra, according to New South Wales producers Rob and Katrina Blomfield.
Since 1945, Rob and Katrina’s Walcha property, Eagle Ridge, has been an official weather station for the Bureau of Meteorology. In January 2014, it recorded the worst 10-month rainfall period on record.
On top of that, they have been feeding their stock since July 2013. It is the second year in a row they have had to start feeding their stock in winter, but unlike January 2013, there have been no summer rains to fill dams and recover pastures. Instead, they are faced with invoices for fodder, which is fast running out and too expensive to transport interstate.
“We’ve been getting molasses across the Victorian border and from Tully, but now that is running out,” Katrina said.
“The feed situation is critical. There is ample fodder in South Australia and Western Australia, but we can’t afford to source it,” she said.
Additionally, with market prices are “disastrous” for both sheep and cattle; they are now calling on not only the government, but all Australians to help drought-stricken farmers.
“Every person needs a farmer – they are the lifeblood of our existence,” Rob said.
“Just occasionally, every farmer needs your help,” he said.
“We are not whinging cockies and we are certainly not rich like many people think, but we are emotionally very fragile and worn out, and it would be nice to know that the people of Australia supported us and gave us a go.”
Rob and Katrina said both federal and state government have totally abandoned the agricultural sector and give no recognition for the contribution it makes to the economy or the contribution rural Australia makes to the fabric of our society.
“Australian farmers are the only famers in the world who are not subsidised, and we are receiving prices for our products that we received 20 years ago.
“American farmers get paid twice as much for their cattle as Australian farmers do by the same multinational companies who control the international meat market.
“If every Australian had their wages cut in half and they still had to pay off their home loans, and they had to pay twice as much for their groceries, I wonder how they would manage.”
Rob and Katrina said removing drought from the natural disaster legislation in 2012 was a mistake, and that it should be reinstated.
“Who can predict a one in 100 year drought and why is it less of a disaster than a flood, fire, or storm? It has the same financial, emotional, and social impact and often the recovery period is much longer.”
Rob and Katrina said local communities are also suffering as a severe downturn in income for producers also meant a severe downturn in the income of local businesses.
They said in times of severe drought, producers came under severe financial pressure and hardship too much to bear for many.
“The government is giving help to people who experienced a Category 1 cyclone last week in Queensland under natural disaster relief. Yet, this drought is going to cost billions in lost income to the economy. It is a natural disaster that is not being recognised by anybody in Canberra and it is starting to break the moral courage of the backbone of this nation.”