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Helping Inverell farmers deal with the dry spell
Mark Whitten shows drought kit to farmer Robert Mason
Farmers are resilient people, and when tough times hit most will put their heads down and get on with the work - but the unforgiving drought of recent years has been taking its toll on many families.
For landholders in the Inverell region, however, dealing with the ongoing drought will be a little bit easier with the support of a new information package.
Funding
In 2003, the Australian Government gave more than $27,000 to the Macintyre Development Unit 2000 - through the Gwydir and Macintyre Resources Management Committee (GWYMAC) Inc - to produce the package.
"We wanted to help farmers in drought-affected areas to better prepare for, cope with and recover from the drought," GWYMAC Community Support Officer, Mark Whitten, said.
"But we wanted to look at it holistically, to identify the social, financial and environmental impacts of the drought."
Activities
An initial postal survey to more than 500 landholders - and follow-up in-depth interviews - uncovered some disturbing statistics.
It found only a third of farmers had a considered drought plan, 18 per cent had a written drought plan and there was a general reluctance to seek professional advice.
"You only have to take a drive and look at farms out there full of dusty paddocks, look at bank balances, or talk to people, to realise we need better management of drought," Mark said.
"People in general don't seem to have effective plans. It's a bit like Russian roulette - if you don't plan for drought, you may get through a couple untouched, but eventually it's going to catch up with you.
"And mentally it's going to be incredibly difficult."
Achievements
With further assistance from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Red Frog Environmental Solution, and a number of counsellors, GWYMAC compiled and printed the Breaking the dry spell information package to be posted to 1,400 landholders in the region.
As well as a range of information about financial planning, water conservation, pasture management and where to go for help, the booklet touches on mental health issues.
An interactive CD gives landholders a few simple planning tools including a water calculator, an asset and liabilities calculator, a cash flow budget tool and a drought management template.
"It's a great resource for finding out more about issues, and while some of the information in the booklet is Inverell-specific, it can easily be adapted to suit any NSW region," Mark said.
"If we get enough demand, we will be able to print more copies and reach more affected landholders."
More information
- Mark Whitten, GWYMAC Community Support Officer: (02) 6721 0219 or gwymac@bigpond.net.au
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