Katrina BRANDON
THIS year is one of the driest, and one of the toughest yet.
Some, even in traditionally rain-rich Gippsland, are fighting for survival.
Farmers around the state are battling for water to grow crops, and fighting for better conditions at a financial level.
In April, Gippsland Farmer spoke with local farmers in Boorool, located between Leongatha and Mirboo North, who said this was their first really dry year in a long time and that they had several cracks in their paddocks due to the dry weather.
Now, months later, farmers are not only fighting droughts, but also fighting to preserve their livelihoods.
- STRADBROKE farmer Ellie Mitterer shared that while she is constantly trying to plan ahead and stick to a schedule, things aren’t that easy on the farm.
“I feel like I’m constantly juggling running behind the eight ball, trying to plan ahead,” Ms Mitterer told Gippsland Farmer.
“I’m a dry land farmer, so I have to rely on environmental factors. We assumed we would get some spring rain, and we assume we’re going to get an autumn break. We assume that it won’t be as dry for as long as it has been.
“I was lucky that I got some (rain) early, and it did green up for me for a bit, which helped carry me through.”
While Ms Mitterer was feeling lucky to get a little rain, she explained that she still had to sell two-thirds of her stock of cattle and sheep to help keep spending costs down and offset expenses such as rates, ensuring things remain somewhat manageable on the farm.
Options for fodder have also been challenging this year, with Ms Mitterer having to look elsewhere for food options.
Usually, Ms Mitterer likes to keep the farm on a closed circuit, only using on-farm feed to ensure she isn’t risking farm biosecurity by importing unwanted weeds and unknowns.
“It was very difficult when I had to buy fodder this year, because you’re supposed to get an NVD fodder, but nobody offers that,” she said.
“There isn’t really a system for farmers to go to and find fodder. So we go on the marketplace, and so it’s become a social media networking exercise to get us through the drought. It’s not ideal.”
During the last season, Ms Mitterer cut one large paddock for bales, which left her with 50 bales, rather than the previous season, when she cut two paddocks and obtained 250.
“Last season, I did one large paddock, and I got 50,” she said.
“Because of that, instead of costing me $25 a round for a contractor to prepare for the farm, it cost me about $65 a round because I had to pay for the cutting and the raking separately by the hour for the contractor, because it wasn’t dense enough for them.
“I only ended up with 50 rounds, which just isn’t enough to get even though I downsized on the cattle, it’s still not enough to get me through. So, I had to buy the product, which cost $5000 for a semi-load of silage.
“Everything is going into the farm and the cattle right now.”
Accompanying the property, large swarms of kangaroos have also been a source of frustration for Ms Mitterer, as well as other farmers.
They feed off the cattle’s food and ruin fences, causing chaos for local drivers.
Ms Mitterer’s property is right off the side of the South Gippsland highway and beside multiple plantations, which flocks of kangaroos call home.
Drought crippling farmers’ patience
CAUSING damage to fences along the highway, Ms Mitterer’s cattle wander out of her boundary lines near the highway, for which she gets fined.
“I don’t mind sharing with them (kangaroos),” she said.
“But there’s plenty of feed for them out in the bush, but they come into the pasture. Unfortunately, my cattle can’t go out in the bush and do the same. One of the worst problems is they they destroy the fences. They put holes in the fences, and then I get calves and cattle out on the highway, which becomes a safety issue for the general public.
“I’m on sand, so the conductivity of electric fences is negated, so kangaroos come through and wreck any electric fencing anyway. So I’m really struggling to contain cattle and rest paddocks or rotate, and any paddock I do rest with kangaroos.”
Having owned the property herself for the last four years and having built up to owning her own farm over many years, Ms Mitterer has put everything into the farm.
With tight expenses and extra cash going into the animals, Ms Mitterer has had to put personal things on hold or weigh the benefits of each against what would bring more security in her life. As a woman in agriculture with the aim of farming, a physically demanding occupation, she decided that having children wouldn’t be logical.
“I feel like I’m chasing my tail within myself and within the farm. I love the farm,” Ms Mitterer said.
“There’s another worry as to, if I get the place set up, are they just going to come put solar panels on there? Is the government going to come in and just make it ugly and industrial when all I’ve done my whole life is forgone having kids so that I can finally get this security and do my cows.”
With farming being tight for extra money, things such as a personal vehicle and on-farm vehicle upgrades, such as tractors, have been put on hold to ensure that the animals stay healthy on-farm and aren’t going hungry.
While not all farmers face situations like Ms Mitterer’s, struggles and challenges resonate throughout the farming sector in various ways.
ACROSS the Gippsland fields, a Buln Buln farmer, Doug Benson (who is featured in Gippsland Farmer), mentioned that while the grass he has isn’t phenomenal, it’s not quite as dire for him as a farmer.
He told the Gippsland Farmer that, although it’s not ideal, he has had some rain and the ground is still warm; he has found that he still has enough grass to “just hang in there”.
“I got about 85-90 head of cattle on 116 acres,” he told the Gippsland Farmer. “It’s pretty good country down here. So, it’s not very often that we have a bad year.
“I’m a bit disillusioned by all these blokes saying how bad it is. This little lot that we’ve got here must be exceptional, because I’ve had paddock shut for three or four weeks, and they got a bit of growth in them.”
RECENTLY, Dairy Australia released a Situation and Outlook Report as well as a Hay Report outlining the 2024/25 season.
Industry confidence is at the lowest level in the last five years, according to the Situation and Outlook Report.
The report stated, “Significant declines are evident in the Murray, Western Victoria, Gippsland and South Australia (SA) dairy regions compared to a year ago. Difficult weather conditions, particularly the ongoing rainfall deficiencies in southwest Victoria, SA and the more recent deficiencies in parts of Gippsland, have dramatically affected the status quo, causing widespread impacts on input costs and profits.
“In Gippsland, production has continued to grow; however, pressures have mounted in the final months of the season. The region managed to avoid most of the weather challenges until December, with milk flows particularly supported by those with access to irrigation in the Macalister Irrigation District.
“More recently, drier conditions in the region’s western and southern areas have led to feed and stock water issues for many farmers, resulting in increased culling. Considering the lingering impacts of these challenges into the new season, Gippsland’s production is likely to ease in the 2025/26 season.”
According to the Hay Report, until longer-term rainfall patterns improve, fodder availability and pricing pressure are expected to persist. It also mentioned that the state government has officially expanded the drought zone to include parts of central Victoria, Wimmera and West Gippsland.
The federal government has committed an additional $36 million to extend the Future Drought Fund Communities Program, helping drought-affected communities in South Australia and Victoria stay connected and supported. An additional $800,000 will be allocated to enhance access to Rural Financial Counselling Services in the most severely affected areas.
While funding has been allocated to farmers, the Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath, has expressed concern that none of the funds are being directed towards Gippsland farmers, who are also struggling.
“While dollar-for-dollar infrastructure grants are woefully insufficient, it is insulting that they remain unavailable for eastern Victorian farmers in drought-impacted areas,” she said.
“This program has been operational in western Victoria – access to eligible local farmers should have been seamless. Labor must listen, announce transportation subsidies and open these grants without hesitation.”
The Leader of The Nationals and Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, said it was inexplicable that Labor was making farmers wait for drought support.
“I have been hearing from tired and frustrated farmers who receive no reply upon application, while others are informed that only Expressions of Interest are being taken,” he said.
“The Labor Government’s only focus is the optics and not the outcomes for our farmers. How does it take over a month to allow farmers to apply?”
Ms Bath said many Gippsland primary producers were battling mounting bills and limited or no feed or water.
“Victorian farmers and The Nationals are calling for fodder, agistment and water support,” she said.
“Our local Rural Financial Counselling Services are being inundated with farmers in mental and financial distress as drought conditions bite into every aspect of their life.”
For more information on Dairy Australia industry reports, go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au/industry-reports
