The lingering effect of droughts

Well we can finally say that the drought that began around 2017 here is finally over and we have a wonderful supply of grass, just magnificent. While the drought is over, there is some lingering effects that might impact communities for many more months to come.

To restart your grazing business after a long dry run is very tough and not something that is really talked about very much.  When there has been a number of dry years end on end, the finances are usually low and nobody wants to increase their borrowings to buy stock if they don’t have to.  Many properties had stock away on agistment, so now they can bring them back and even in some circumstances take other stock on agistment which will give some cashflow.

We can talk about finances, the high price of stock to restock with and what and where you might buy them from, with the high cost of freight, well that just adds to the cost.  An issue rarely discussed is the mental health and how you can get your mind out of the drought thinking and into the positivity that grass should bring.  With drought thinking still not far away, it is hard not to question your own ability to manage livestock, manage the land?  Do I have the energy to kick start our livestock business again, how many more times am I going to have to do this?  What impact has this had on the next generation of farmers, are they now looking at other professions after witnessing the impact it has had on their family?

The effects of this and other droughts could impact the family, the business, the community and others for many years.  What can we do to help?

• Turn up, show up, listen up and show genuine empathy
• Leave your solutions at home, they are of no value.
• Be there for your friends, your mates, make sure we are all connected in the community.
• Kindness and support are what most people need, not tools and direction.

I reckon there are very few people that haven’t been impacted by this long term drought, I know I have been, my production and achievements in the last year have been well down on my past expectations. 

While I focus on the people issues here, clearly the land, flora and fauna has lingering effects as well. Yes the landscape recovers after a drought, how well depends on the management prior to the drought and through the drought.  Now isn’t the time to beat land managers up about this, over time lessons can be learnt and strategies put in place, now though is the time to recover.

Drought is very poorly understood by many in Australia, making it difficult to manage and tough to plan for.  I mean how do other businesses in Australia handle 2-3 consecutive years where they make a loss? Bankruptcy?  So another way we can all help is by making sure that our decision makers understand drought, rather than turning up in the middle of a raging drought, saying what do you need?  Then going back to their department and working out how they can put so much red tape in the way of delivery of any support.