Dairy Australia connects with farmers affected by floods and drought

As a result of the numerous hardships dairy farmers are facing across Australia this season due to recent floods and the ongoing drought, Dairy Australia (DA) has redirected its regional teams to provide targeted, on-the-ground support to areas most in need.

DA's regional team in NSW has directly connected with all flood-affected farmers to better understand the impact on their farms and wellbeing and are providing on-the-ground support to farmers. In the immediate aftermath of the floods, the team prioritised sourcing fodder and activating veterinary and animal welfare support for all affected.

As the flood response enters the recovery phase, DA's focus has shifted to supporting farmers by providing them with business impact assessments, government grants and financial counselling; as well as helping them address animal health issues and connecting them with mental health and wellbeing support services. 

In addition to flood response, DA has continued to support farmers affected by drought and dry conditions across inland and southern Australia.

Over the past 18 months, regional teams have worked with cross-industry collaborators to hold workshops and webinars to share advice and information from farm business professionals. These sessions strive to bring together expert service providers and provide one-on-one guidance for farmers.

The latest initiative aimed at assisting farmers in drought-affected areas is a fortnightly series of webinars on dry season topics. These webinars offer farmers the opportunity to ask Dairy Australia and industry experts on topics like transition feeding and preparing for spring to maximising forage production and utilisation.

With the situation in drought and flood impacted areas continuing to evolve, Dairy Australia is also continuing its important role of monitoring the situation and supporting advocacy efforts as well as engaging with government where required.

Farmers impacted by weather extremes, or seeking support with business preparedness, can reach out to the Dairy Australia team in their region via its website at dairyaustralia.com.au.