FARMERS are being encouraged to reach out for assistance to Rural Aid Charity as the Bureau of Meteorology officially declares an El Nino event.
The El Nino weather pattern means hot dry seasons that trend towards drought and Rural Aid CEO John Warlters says the Bureau’s announcement has confirmed many fears for producers.
“The El Nino weather pattern will bring a lot of unwelcome memories to the surface for farmers, who have been anxiously watching land and waterways dry up,” he said.
“Thousands of farmers are already managing their land with a view to drought and the El Nino announcement makes that approach more important.
“The last drought was regarded as the worst in living memory for the majority of the country, and it is understandable that many farmers are scared of going through that again.
“Rural Aid offers primary producers a range of assistance measures including financial assistance, hay, drinking water, counselling and volunteer assistance, and we are encouraging farmers to reach out.”
Requests to Rural Aid for emergency drinking water in the last four months have increased by 240 percent, and a free water tank offer was exhausted in just four hours as a result of more than 95 applications.
“El Nino is a particularly upsetting time for farmers, and it means that conditions are likely to get worse before they get better,” Mr Warlters said.
“I am encouraging farmers who are finding themselves overwhelmed to give the rurally based counselling team a call for a free chat, to make sure that they are in the best possible position they can be in, to take on the upcoming season.”
