By MATT NICHOLLS
NOVEMBER is shaping as a critical month for the region’s farmers as the drought continues to plague the Northern Tablelands.
Following one of the driest October months on record, Kingstown cattle grazier Andrew Brownlie said he was on the verge of making some “drastic decisions” at his property Matoni.
“It’s getting pretty crook” he said.
“If we don’t get any rain soon we are going to have to go with an early wean strategy with the calves.”
That process involves a formulated ration process, which reduces the amount of feed given to calves, but is based on a high grain content to meet their energy requirements.
However, it can be a risky strategy.
“If you don’t get it right it risks retarding their growth,” Mr Brownlie said.
A similar drought in 2009 had Mr Brownlie and other graziers in the region send their cattle to western NSW, but that option isn’t available this year.
Selling the stock isn’t an option for most, because if the cattle aren’t fat, they don’t command a price at market.
“I think most of us are holding on to stock and hoping the rain comes,” Mr Brownlie said.
“Because the cattle prices were so poor in autumn, a lot of farmers are carrying stock from that period, too.”
Mr Brownlie said November was going to be a critical month for a lot of sheep and cattle farmers in the region.
“We normally get some of our biggest rainfall in November and the weather is warm, so it makes for good growing conditions,” he said.
Just 31mm fell in Armidale last month, about 40mm below average, while the average November rainfall is 110mm.
