bloody drought

Old Baz ,
That has touched me and my heart goes out to you . Anything we or I can do to help , apart from bringing on the rain ?
Willie .

G'day Oldbaz, I don't know where your farm is, but I live in Far West NSW, and I know there is more dust blowing east from here unfortunately.

But some one further west than us is watching it come this way too.

I guess we are a little better off in some ways because the general plantlife out here is the sort of stuff that can go for many months with bugger all water, whereas the flora in the east is accustomed to higher rainfall and has not got the drought tolerance needed at the moment.

Consequently, there is a lot more bare earth where the vegetation has dried off.

More dust.

Does create some spectacular willie willies though.
I saw 12 different ones at the same time from Mundi lookout at Silverton a while ago.

There is a good side to this drought though as far as I can see.
It is affecting so many of us Aussies that everybody is talking about it now.
The next thing is getting the decision makers to act on all their rhetoric.
But, in my eyes, if there was a drought that only affected 10% or 20% of Australia, it would be a case of (for most people) out of sight , out of mind.
Now that it is affecting almost all of us, maybe there will be something done about water allocations to both country and city folks alike.

Don't bother buying a new 4by at the monment either, it will be sandblasted back to bare metal before you have a chance to drive too far.

If you want to go for a drive down the Darling, dont waste your money on a 4by, you can just about drive along the riverbed in a Daewoo Matiz or similarat the moment.
Dave

We feel for you guys and all the drought stricken farmers out there. There is probably nothing we here can say here to help matters or to bring on the rain but somehow in some small way we hope it makes you feel better knowing that we feel for you.

I come off of a farm so any problems associated with farming thoughout Aus is of interest to me.

Keep your chins up people, on a farm there is always 'next seasong'!!!!!!!

Cheers
D&B

Hello oldbaz

Anyone who can look depression in the face and go the other way is a champion in my book .

For those farmers who are so depressed that suicide seems an option , they need to know that their feelings of failure and worthlessness are wrong . Every farmer is highly trained at multitudes of skills including management , driving , welding , machining , fitting , machinery maintenance and safety , just to list a few . In fact their skills are in high demand in WA as ' trades assistants ' . Housewives are signing on as TA's , how much better to have the abilities of a farmer in the job ? If there are farmers out there who need a lift in their self esteem and a well paid break from the farm , some may benefit from a period of TA work in WA . The WA Sunday paper is the place to look .

Old Baz

I suppose looking on the bright side of things, if you have good neighbours with good farming practices it simply means as the wind blows back and forth you get to cultivate each others property.

Perhaps a regional co-operative is the go with all the rpoceeds being divided up by the mob.

Hmmm....

Keep smiling..

Hey there oldbaz,

I have been inspired by your words. I know how hard it is to look depression in the face and go the other way,i have been battling it for a few years myself. As for the drought - well our thoughts are with you and all the other guys out there doing it though. Wish there was some way we could make a valuable contribution to helping solve the problems you guys are facing. As someone said recently - when the tsunami wipes thailand out we all donated millions to help those people but noone seems willing to organise something to help you blokes. Take care matey were all thinking of you
Jan and co.

I heard today that in the Western District (Vic) they are harvesting 1 bag of wheat to the acre, usually get 15. So all they are getting, is their seed back for next year.

We are lucky here in Gippsland, full dams & green grass & my cattle are fat ... for now!

Old Baz,

I'm an old bloke but new member. If anyone wants to get the good oil on the real Australia then this forum is a good place to look. I've retired to Coffs Harbour, and after 4 years of less than average rain we are ahead of average this year. Makes me feel guilty, but you blokes (not guys) can take heart because hope springs eternal, tomorrow or next week or next year ... WILL be a bumper.
Love the one about the cocky who wins lottto.

My thoughts are with you, wish I could do more.

John L.

Just visited the west of NSW to the Macquarie Marshes and The Darling rivers. It's enough to make you cry.
Hope it rains fellers and you get all toy want .

Know how you feel mate . We got a bad case of the locust's at the moment . Watching the garden disappear as we speak and not much we can do .

Howdy okjbaz,
Keep your chin up mate - good on ya for looking outside of the situation - we spent 11 years in a cropping / grazing district and that showed us that whilst it is sooooo romantic to think life on the land is good, I would not swap to a farmers life for quids! Too much responsibility, too much of a gamble for us. 'bout time a few other Aussies gave the farmers the due respect deserved. Ever in Adelaide - give us a yell to see if we can get together for a cuppa!
Cheers Mobi

Look on the bright side old mate,
If it keeps blowing and all your topsoil ends up in the same place you might own your own island in the pacific soon. Might be tricky proving its your dirt though.
Cheers

Oldbaz
What can I say?
Here I am in suburban Melbourne worringing if my garden will survive. Obviously I have decide to let the thing go.
We in the 4Wd movement are very much aware of you plight and you must know that you have our support, whenever & however you want it.
I just wanted to send this in support.
Regards
Parso

Ditto for all of that from me too

Damien & family.

Yep know you feel there's nothing worse than watching the dirt moving like that I found it best to pull the curtains and try not to watch till it's over.

I can't run my farm anymore and had to leave, it was a bit hard watching other people(share farmer) working your farm but thats life.

Hang in mate I know what your going through we had droughts frost and even the bank had me on the ropes once and survived it all then got one out of left field that beat me, now I have to fish in my spare time(poor bugger aye he he )

To all the cocky's out there doing it tough I hope you get a few top ones in a row you sure as hell deserve it

wafarmer

Oldbaz,
I quote you "Dont really know why I am posting this, but feel better already, so humour me please."

Let me offer a my thoughts on this, I think you are writing because you feel you have friends here and that you can share your experience with them. I'm also guessing that you talk to other farmers around you.
This is something which all other farmers would do well to do at this time. We seem to find some solice in talking to one another as we are all in this together

I know state farmer organizations are putting strategies in place trying to get farmers together and also making sure other support services are in place if us farmers need them. not sure who to call? NSW farmers assoc. has some good people, I know some in their dairy section. All other state organizations are doing stuff too.

It won't make it rain but it makes us feel better.
NickR