WITH 90 per cent of NSW in drought and the situation worsening by the day, Border farmers are justifiably scared.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The traditional autumn break is almost six weeks late, crops are half sown, emerging canola is stressed and graziers are selling off their excess stock.
Paull and Scollard principal Mike Scollard said rural confidence in the past fortnight had plummeted.
“It’s all just started to happen,” he said.
“The cropping guys, in particular, are really getting a hammering.
“All their money at this time of year goes out instead of coming in and if it rained, even 20mm, this weekend it would mean a hell of a lot.”
Mr Scollard said anecdotal evidence from rural merchandise sellers at Corowa showed farmers had stopped spending.
“We were in the same position at this time last year but I think for farmers — copping this two years in a row — they’ve got a lot less resources.”
Corryong-based stock agent Jeff Brindley said water was becoming scarce.
“In our area, away from the river where they rely on dams, water shortages for stock are becoming a real problem,” he said.
“I’ve got a client at Rand and because there’s no water in the Billabong (Creek) he can’t use some of his country.”
North of the Border the situation is even worse with the Wagga Rural Lands Protection Board drought-declared and the eastern section of the Hume board, around Tumbarumba, tipped to be drought-declared this week.
The latest Rabobank rural confidence survey also confirmed Mr Scollard’s view.
Overall only 18 per cent of NSW primary producers expected the agricultural economy to improve during the next 12 months, down from 24 per cent last quarter.
And more expected conditions to worsen during the next year — 34 per cent compared to 23 per cent last quarter.
Rabobank spokesman Graham Yeo said the dry conditions and higher input costs were battering confidence in rural areas.
He also said that sentiment was weak in all sectors and had weakened significantly among sheep and dairy producers.
“Although investment intentions remain stable, this would rapidly deteriorate without rainfall in June and July, affecting dramatically the outlook for future income,” he said.
