LOCALS graziers are encouraged to support those ravaged by last week’s fires, which claimed an estimated 10,000 sheep statewide.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Department of Primary Industries on Friday began the grim task of assessing the stock and pasture loss due to some 150 fires around the state.
Some 3500 sheep at nearby Yass perished and tens of thousands of hectares burnt out during the widespread blazes.
The DPI has teamed up with NSW Farmers and established an online fodder registry, where donors can pledge their support to affected farmers. A link to the fodder registry can be found on the Department’s website, dpi.nsw.gov.au.
“In the worst cases properties have been left without a blade of grass to feed livestock – this register is one way of helping farming families recover from this devastating event,” NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said.
Affected producers in natural disaster declared areas may be eligible for transport freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent on the carriage of livestock and fodder up to a maximum of $15,000 per annum.
The fires will place undue pressure at all points of the fodder industry, a local stock feeds supplier says.
“This will put huge demand on the fodder industry,” Fife Stock Feeds owner Bill Fife says.
“Even without the fires, there was already plenty of demand.” NSW Farmers regional services manager Dave Banham said any support would be greatly appreciated among graziers disadvantaged by the fires.
“Yass and Cooma have both been badly affected,” Mr Banham said.
“Any support would be greatly appreciated.
Some of our members are looking in their sheds and if there’s anything they can give, they’re putting it on the register.” BlazeAid, a charity established in the wake of Black Saturday bushfires, has indicated it will be setting up camp in Yass.
BlazeAid volunteers help rebuild fences damaged by fire.