Rain across four states has failed to dampen demand for fodder to feed drought affected livestock.
Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, said the sigh of relief from farmers who received rain in the past week was almost audible such was the desperation of some; none more so than producers in south-western West Australia where the region had experienced its driest conditions on record.
“This rain could not have come at a better time given the circumstances producers had in front of them,” Rural Aid chief executive officer John Warlters said. “But we don’t expect the demand for fodder, or the challenge in sourcing it, to change in the short to medium term.” In the past month, Rural Aid had coordinated 29 fodder drops across the country. “Rural Aid continues to be active right across the country at this time providing hay for livestock, drinking water, and financial relief,” Mr Warlters said.
Rural Aid rely heavily on community and corporate support to fund its activities and encourage tax-time donations to help sustain its efforts. “With June 30 just around the corner now is an opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation in support of Rural Aid and ‘our mates in the bush’ – the farming families that need our help.”