Charlotte Varcoe
FARMERS across the Limestone Coast have made the call for help this season as the Need for Feed initiative makes its way.
About 60 applications for assistance have been registered with the charity as farmers grapple with this season’s conditions and its effects.
The Lions Club International project was first established in 2007 after one of the nation’s most dry seasons on record.
At the time, three farmers per week were taking their own lives with many others walking off the land due to the tough conditions.
Now in its 18th year, the Need for Feed initiative will head to Naracoorte next month to donate truck loads of hay for farmers in need.
Need for Feed chairperson Graham Cockerell said they had been keeping an eye on the area after recently making a trip to Western Victoria.
“It became quite apparent that we need to jump over the border into South Australia,” Mr Cockerell siad.
“We had a few requests about six to eight weeks ago.”
Mr Cockerell said farmers in need were able to apply for assistance via the Need for Feed website with volunteers then picking up donated hay from farmers who were able to spare it before taking it to farmers who needed it.
“We did have quite a few requests for assistance at the moment as the publicity picked up when we did South Western Victoria,” Mr Cockerell said.
“We are not surprised by the number of people needing assistance because we have seen the rainfall maps and weather patterns and it was not enough to break it.”
He said areas which had previously donated often found themselves in need during later seasons and vice versa with the South East known for donating hay previously.
“Areas that have donated end up getting it back and vice versa and areas that are donating end up being areas which had received before that donating,” Mr Cockerell said.
“We do it to help as much as possible.”
Planning on delivering the donated hay in September, Mr Cockerell said more collection would occur in between.
“We will cover the whole Limestone Coast and hope people can support us,” he said.
“Our drivers are volunteers but they still get their fuel and there are running costs, it all costs money so if there were transport companies or drivers who were happy to volunteer that would be great.”
Mount Gambier Combined Agents chairperson Chris Manser welcomed the assistance for local farmers.
“There are certainly people that have run out of feed and have had to sell stock off that they would not normally sell,” Mr Manser said.
“There would be people out there who are certainly looking for a bit of guidance as far as if they wean early, what supplements or feed is required to get those cattle or lambs working.
“If you wean early they might not be developed enough to be able to take the right feed and if the feed is wrong for them, there is certainly a need out there for guidance.”
Mr Manser said the region had not experienced too many of these “real tough” years with different farming practices needing to be implemented due to the season.
“Farmers down here in the past have been very generous when it comes to things like disasters, bushfires or floods and have donated hay and other feed for these people so it is lovely for that to be reciprocated,” he said.
“If there are farmers out there that require it, they should put their hand up and not be embarrassed because most farmers are all in the same boat this year.”
