By NOEL MURPHY
THE spectre of drought hangs over the region following a dry start to the year and little sign of significant rain in sight, according to authorities.
Producers across Geelong and southwest Victoria are hunkering down already, sowing dry crops and digging deep for high-priced feed, according to Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Barwon Water will bring stage two water restrictions into effect on Sunday at Colac after the region posted its least rain on record for the first three months of the year.
Bureau of Meteorology has forecast minimal relief in sight, even with rain tipped for the coming week.
Geelong’s water storages were 68.7 per cent of capacity on Wednesday, marginally less than the 72.3 per cent at the same time last year. Colac storages were 35.5 per cent compared to 52 per cent at the same time in 2012.
Barwon Water’s acting supply manager Dr Will Buchanan said the authority was investigating options to boost Colac’s storage capacity, with a preferred option expected mid-year.
VFF regional manager Peter Walsgott said the dry conditions were obvious as close to Geelong as Bannockburn.
Farmers were increasingly concerned about ongoing prospects for rain, he said.
“We’ve seen increases of 40 per cent hike in hay prices, so there are quite few nervous farmers.
“Everywhere I’ve been in the southwest everybody is madly feeding out. It’s costing dairy farmers a fortune for hay.
“There’s been no recent growth and even in coastal areas where it’s just short lawn, no growth.”
