Our ‘green’ drought

Andrew Mathieson
THE Halls now know a thing or two about the “green drought” gripping local farms.
They can explain how the ongoing droughts is not just found in the dry-red dust bowls of northern Victoria and beyond.
Drought is also scouring the bank accounts and futures of Geelong region farmers despite the apparent promise of green paddocks this winter.
Water storages languish below 30 per cent capacity and farm dams are running dry across the region.
Just outside Winchelsea in the dairy district of Ombersley, Tessa and Ray Hall face mounting debts from outstanding water bills.
They have been forced to truck in tens of thousands of litres that have already cost them more than $30,000.
Now they have bought their water tanker to desperately help nourish their stock.
“We’ve been out of water virtually since the start of the year, running on a smell of an oily rag so to speak,” Ms Hall said.
“The dams now have no water in them.”
Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay said only heavy downpours could fill the region’s dams.
He said new growth currently covering local paddocks was deceptive.
“It’s green but there is no growth,” he said.
“The ground is rock hard and we’re supposed to be in the wettest month, traditionally.”
Mr Ramsay, a Birregurra farmer, said the region’s green scenery belied the dryness of its soil.
Farmers around Shelford had reported no run-off into the dams for three years now.
“It would appear climatic change, global warming, whatever you want to call it, is having an impact,” he said.
“We haven’t seen a dry August like this for years, except for the last couple, which seems to be a trend.”
With the Halls’ children now grown-up, they had hoped to be debt-free and to employ someone else to help on their farm.
But they were instead preparing to face more short-term pain for long-term gain.
“We’re getting on in age and it’s something we didn’t want to have to do,” Ms Hall said.
“But Rob thought long and hard about it.”
Ms Hall said she and her husband were not keen on “handouts” but it “would be nice” to get extra help during tough times.
Selling the family farm was out of the question.
“I can’t sell it, we just can’t,” Ms Hall said.