1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,159 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how tough life is at the moment. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: I mean you talk of cost of living. Imagine being 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: a farmer and patchy rainfall this year, summer's fallen here 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 1: and there, but not enough and not in the right places. Well, 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: shortly have a chat with Brad Perryck from the Grain 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: Producers SSAY Group and Rob Brokenshire from SA Dairy Farmers 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: Travis Tobin, CEO of Livestock Essay. But let's kick this 8 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: off with a farmer, Miles Hanniman, who is a farmer 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: down in the southeast in Keith. Gooday, Miles, how are you? 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: I'm good, Matthew, how are you all right? 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: Thank you? Thanks for having a chat down in the southeast, 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: down around Keith. They you normally get a reasonable amount 13 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: of rain. How's it been this year? 14 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 2: It's been an interesting year. We get excited about three 15 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: millimeters of rain. We used to get excited about twenty 16 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: milimeters ray, but we go, yes, we've got three today, 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: which is exciting, but it's just it's the rainfall bit 18 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: we can cope with because that's nature as best. The 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: main thing we're feeling is that we a farmer said 20 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: to meet the other day that he felt that they 21 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 2: weren't being listened to. So that's why I've agreed to 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,839 Speaker 2: do the article in the Sunday Mail. Yes, that I'm 23 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: agreeing it to do with you now is that we 24 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: just feel as though we are not being heard. And 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: there's farming's made up of a lot of small businesses 26 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: that form a big industry. And the big industry could 27 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: be bigger than Whyala I reckon And as soon as 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: Wyala sort of goes wrong, the melanouskis is over there 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: on the front page and the TV saying will help you, 30 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 2: But we haven't heard that yet. And that's mostly what 31 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 2: the farmers want is to be heard and just listen 32 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 2: to That would make things a lot better. 33 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: What would you say, so, what do you want to 34 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: be heard about? 35 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 2: Just? I think the state's going to be quite shocked 36 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: of the income that they won't receive. You know, farming 37 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: or primary industry puts a lot of money into into 38 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: the pockets of South Australia and the money just won't 39 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: be there. You know, there's people that have got sailed 40 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 2: crops and some of these crops are costing two or 41 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: three million dollars to put in and in our own 42 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: industry here where most of it are going to be 43 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: three hundred thousand dollars down which won't be spent in 44 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: the community, and yeah, we just want to be would 45 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: be great if a politician and just listen to us 46 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: and said, yeah, we can help you, or we know 47 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: this is going on, but the feeling is we just 48 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 2: left to dry. 49 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: What sort of help do you want those miles? Ultimately? 50 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: Is it? I mean, you know, farmers. 51 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: Most probably the first health is emotional. Okay, that would 52 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: be the best thing. And that's mostly where I'm seeing 53 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: people in teeth and other places that they're emotionally tired. 54 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 2: You know, I've been feeding stop for eight months and 55 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: I'm just over it, you know. So the emotional bit, 56 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: you know, the arm around us and saying, look, we 57 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 2: know this is going on. And there's little things that 58 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: have been brought in this year. One of them. I 59 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: was talking little farm the other day and we've got 60 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: these new tags that are going to cost three and 61 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: a half thousand dollars for our farm. We could delay 62 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: that till next year, you know, we just simply let's 63 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: get about that this year. Let's do it next year. 64 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: We've got filed albums for years and that's just another 65 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: three and a half thousand dollars. I don't have to 66 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: just yeah, there's not much. It could be freight subsidies. 67 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: One of the big issues we're going to do now 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: is in the last couple of months we've been able 69 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: to buy hay all the last six months, but all 70 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: the sheds are Empeans South Australia and there's not going 71 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 2: to be much hay to be made, so we might 72 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: have to bring hay in from long distances. A freight 73 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: subsidy would be great, but I still think it's the 74 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: main thing is emotional. 75 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, So do you do you get contacted 76 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: by primary industries or you know, your local MPs to 77 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: ask how you're doing. 78 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: Oh well, I get on well with Nick and he 79 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 2: might we just talk socially and he, you know, he's 80 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: a farmer, he knows what's going on. But you know, 81 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: they talk about the cost of living crisis, and I 82 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: feel sorry for the people in the city because it's 83 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: tough for everyone. But there's certainly a cost of farming crisis. 84 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: At the moment our inputs have gone through the roof. 85 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: Our just at the cost of being a farm is 86 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: very expensive. And one of the things Matthew is just 87 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: today and tomorrow in Keith is unprecedented. There's a sale 88 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: of store lambs, first time ever, eighteen thousand lambs to 89 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: sail in Keith tomorrow. They've got to try and find 90 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: a home because people just can't feed them. So it's 91 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 2: it's visual and it's real. 92 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: Are some of those yours? No? 93 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: Mine went last with? Well did that and we had 94 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: to meet the market and thank god, someone's got more 95 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 2: feed than me and I've still got some left. But yeah, 96 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: we met the market. We've been meeting the market on 97 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: all our animals. We've sold stairs and Heifer's last week 98 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 2: we've sold and some old user going off to Dubbo 99 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: I think tomorrow and just they're going everywhere and the 100 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: local stock agents are working their butt off to try 101 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: and find homes for these stuff. But yeah, I think 102 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: when you ask what's for help, we need start with 103 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: emotional get down and have a barbecue in town and 104 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: just talk to us and yeah we might be able 105 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: to move on a bit together. Fields so we left 106 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: behind Myles. 107 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: Really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for sharing. 108 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: That's that's hard to hear, really that, you know, it's 109 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: just a little bit of t orc, a bit of 110 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 1: love and support. 111 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 2: I think that's what we need. And my sister said 112 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: to me, Miles, don't forget you chose to be a farmer, 113 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: and we know when we enter this industry that we're 114 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: going to have ups and downs. That's the fact of 115 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 2: being a farmer. But the other times we've had people 116 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: helping us or just putting our arm around us. I 117 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: think that's what we need emotion. If melon Ousis came 118 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: to Keith or went to James Down and saw the 119 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: fail crops, he might get a little bit excited. I'm 120 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: sure if he drove to Melbourne on the weekend instead 121 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 2: of flying, he would have been shocked what he saw. 122 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: All right, now, thank you for helping us with the 123 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: getting it diexposed. 124 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: No, I appreciate your time too. Miles Hanneman, farmer in Key. 125 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: Thank you. Travis Tobin, CEO of Livestock SA. Travis, just 126 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: listening to Miles there, and this would not be a 127 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: new story that you'd be hearing for the first time, 128 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: but farmers having to sell off their stock because there's 129 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: not enough food around. 130 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right, Matthew. Yeah, we have seen considerable de 131 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 3: stocking already, which you know is expected given the season. 132 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: I think it's just really important to appreciate the severity 133 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,559 Speaker 3: of the season. Basically, if you draw a line across 134 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 3: the state and everything south, you know, all the Peninsula's 135 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 3: ki the southeast, there's large tracks of land there that 136 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 3: are currently lowest on record rainfalls, and if not lowest, 137 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 3: it's in severe, severe conditions. So, yes, we have seen 138 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 3: a lot of livestock liquidation, and not bydal prices. And 139 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 3: I guess the thing to remember that too is last 140 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 3: year through twenty twenty three, we saw a collapse in 141 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 3: livestock prices. And when I say that, you know, some 142 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 3: livestock classes fell as much as seventy percent and other 143 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 3: animal classes had no saleable value. So you know, you've 144 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: got producers that were in a pretty tough cash flow 145 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 3: position prior to heading into the last twelve months of 146 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 3: poor season. 147 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, the last major drought I can from 148 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: a national point of view, was in around nineteen eighty 149 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: one eighty two, and I still remember just terrible vision 150 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: of farmers having to put down animals on their farm 151 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: no one would buy them. Of course, that there was 152 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: no food or water as a result of not enough water, 153 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: not enough food for them, and that was are we 154 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: were heading into that sort of situation at the moment. 155 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: We hope not, Matthew, But you know, there is no 156 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 3: doubt that there are extreme things that happen in extreme situations. 157 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: So you know, hopefully we can be better prepared should 158 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: those sorts of circumstances arise and making sure that it's 159 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 3: done in the most humane and bisecure way if we 160 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 3: have to go that far. But yeah, so yeah, if 161 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 3: that comes, we'll deal with that. But no, it's not 162 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 3: something we're hoping the scene. 163 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: And over on the East Coast. They've got rain there, 164 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: haven't they. It's just here in essay that we've copped 165 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: that the worst. 166 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 3: Oh the East Coast of Australia looks fantastic. Yeah, but 167 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 3: I guess that's the nature of Australia, isn't it. You know, 168 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 3: we know this is seasonal, we know cyclical, but I 169 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 3: think the things to remember is, you know, droughts come 170 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 3: and go, but they also have impact beyond what you 171 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 3: can just visually visually see right here and now, so 172 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 3: you know, reduce livestock numbers that we're just talking about 173 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 3: that impacts businesses, production and profitability and subsequent years. It's 174 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 3: not just this year. It's in a recovery phase. And 175 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 3: of course debt increases during drought because you're feeding animals 176 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 3: and for some producers, I've been feeding animals for over 177 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 3: twelve months already, so you know, it therefore makes the 178 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 3: rebound out the other side difficult. And it's that compounding 179 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 3: of issues that really takes its toll on producers and 180 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 3: that's why you know, that sort of assistance piece I 181 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 3: think is really needed. 182 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: Now, Yeah, Miles, call for some TLC. You know, come down, 183 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: have a barbie with us. This is to the government. 184 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: Hear us out. It's all we're asking for. Is that enough? 185 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 3: I think it's a start. So there was a round 186 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 3: table Narrow Court a couple of weeks ago. 187 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 2: We've got a. 188 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: Commitment from the government to do more round tables around 189 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: the state, which is exactly that, hearing directly from people 190 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: in local areas about what are what are the challenges 191 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: facing them? Like obviously there's a broad understanding of challenges, 192 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 3: but it also has regional contextuality about what it is, 193 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 3: so that there's that side. There's also things needed with 194 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 3: the current assistance measures, you know that they need review. 195 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 3: So for example, some of the some of the financial 196 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 3: assistance measures, the thresholds are probably not right as far 197 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 3: as our set caps and therefore people not necessarily being 198 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 3: able access them. So there's a bit of work to 199 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 3: do there. But also then that those connections around barbecues, 200 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 3: and so I heard Miles mention that, So we did 201 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 3: something like that last year through the through the price 202 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 3: declines that I talked about earlier, we did something similar 203 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 3: last year, and I think something that that's been agreed 204 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 3: to do again, which is it's good because it's about 205 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: community connection, and we know it goes just beyond producers. 206 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 3: It is about whole communities that suffer, and we need 207 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: to make sure those communities connect and talk to each 208 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: other as well. But you know there are other things 209 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 3: the need. As I alluded to that it's not just 210 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 3: what you can see in the outs out the other side. 211 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 3: So what sort of things can the government help producers 212 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 3: to prepare and bounce back. So there's been a range 213 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 3: of decision making forums and or workshops around the state. 214 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 3: We've been involved in a lot of those. There'll be 215 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 3: some more, but it's pretty hard to implement what you're 216 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 3: learning and strategies to deal with it and respond if 217 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 3: cash flow is so tight, so there's got to be 218 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 3: ways to free out cash flow so people can implement 219 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 3: the sorts of things they need to do to keep 220 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 3: their businesses viable. 221 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: Travis, thank you for your time this morning. 222 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 3: Pleasure. 223 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: Matthew, CEO Livestock Say Rob Brokenshire, President SA Dairy Farmers. 224 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: How bad is it for dairy farmers for up? 225 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 4: Good morning, Good mone Matthew, and good morning to your listeners. Well, 226 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 4: dairy farmers are pretty much in the same situation as 227 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 4: grain growers and beef and sheep producers right at the moment. Obviously, 228 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 4: the dairy farming country is in some of the best 229 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 4: South Australian rainfall country and this year's probably been the 230 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 4: least rainfall we've seen in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the 231 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 4: Fluria Peninsula and the southeast where the main dairying areas 232 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 4: are probably the least rain we've seen for decades, so 233 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 4: it's made it pretty tough. We know there are cycles 234 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 4: with climate when you're farming, and we accept that, but 235 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 4: this one's been a real challenge for us, particularly Matthew, 236 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 4: because we've seen significant increases in interest rates and input 237 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 4: costs at the same time that we haven't had the 238 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 4: rain to produce the feed we need. 239 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: So then you're having to buy it in as well. 240 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, our own families just brought in tens of 241 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 4: thousands of dollars earth of hay. We haven't had to 242 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 4: do that before. But you know, we thought we'd have 243 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 4: a thousand rolls of silage carry over for this season, 244 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 4: and we've just started cutting silage now. But because in 245 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 4: Mount comfor some Offleurio Peninsula, which is a high rainfall area, 246 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 4: we didn't get an opening until Dune as an example, 247 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 4: and that was similar in the southeast. We didn't therefore, 248 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 4: with the cold wind, to get any natural pasture growth 249 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 4: until late July. So I know some of our dairy 250 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 4: farmers have spent a quarter of a million dollars buying 251 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 4: fighter But you know, we'll always put animal welfare ahead 252 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 4: of everything else, aback to you. That's number one and 253 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 4: number two. At this point in time, milk productions still 254 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 4: being pretty much on par with what we projected for 255 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 4: this year. So but it's coming to cost and it's 256 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 4: come with a lot of stress and hard work for 257 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 4: dairy farmers. 258 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: Does that put up the price of meal. 259 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 4: Ultimately, it hasn't at this point in time. We did 260 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 4: have an increase of few years ago, which we desperately 261 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 4: needed after the you know, the coal's milk war, but 262 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 4: at this stage we haven't. We've seen it for some 263 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 4: farmers are reduction for one July and their milk prices, 264 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 4: so that's also made it tough. But you know, we 265 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 4: just need to make enough profit to be able to 266 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 4: run our businesses successfully. And right at the moment, our 267 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 4: input costs are probably to the point where a lot 268 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 4: of farmers are just breaking even and some are actually 269 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 4: losing money. So, you know, SADA as a dairy Farmer's 270 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 4: association and watching that closely. We're working with the government, 271 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 4: we're working with the industry right across and we're hoping 272 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 4: that you know, things might improve sooner rather than later. 273 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 4: That is that if we can start to get every 274 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 4: rain coming in now, then our past your growth will 275 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 4: stay there longer. But if we don't get decently and soon, 276 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 4: then the past you will dry often. Of course, that 277 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 4: compounds the problem because that also means your cuts of 278 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 4: solid and high you're back and make such a small complex. 279 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: Rob, appreciate your time. 280 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thanks Matt for you. 281 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: Rob Brokenshire there from the Dairy Farmers Association around eight 282 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: minutes to ten on five double A. Well. You think 283 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: times are tough at the moment cost of living, we 284 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: know all about that. Imagine if you're a farmer trying 285 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: to make ends meet during a tough rain year. It's 286 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: been it hasn't been the rainfall that farmers want in 287 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, and that is affecting a range of 288 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: industries across the state. You've got the issue with tomatoes 289 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: just north of the city in the Virginia two Wells 290 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: area through there, that is affecting those growers. You've got 291 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: wine issues that frosters has hit those. Let's focus on 292 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: one of them. Grain and grain producers, say the CEO, 293 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: Brad Perry on the line. Brad, good morning, I got 294 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: it that you. How's your industry holding up this year? 295 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 5: It's going to be a tough finish to the seas 296 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 5: and we've had record low rainfall in a lot of 297 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 5: areas this year. So speaking to a lot of grain 298 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 5: producers who keep rainfall records, they're telling me that it's 299 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 5: either the worst or second worst on record dating back 300 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 5: to the nineteen hundred, So we've had a really dry 301 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 5: year and then recently we've been smashed by frost. So 302 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 5: it seemed to be state wider and I think the 303 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 5: dry conditions exacerbate that as well, So the frost has 304 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 5: had a larger impact than it normally would. Plus we've 305 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 5: had for the day after day of frost events that 306 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 5: have hit in some areas sort of minus nine. 307 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 4: So pretty brutal. 308 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: Wow, that's hard. What does that mean long term? So 309 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: obviously grain producers we just won't have a bumper crop. 310 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: Obviously it'll be a. 311 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 5: Tough year for growers, so yeah, won't be too many 312 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 5: growers who are making money this year. So it's going 313 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 5: to be a financial hit. But from a state economic 314 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 5: point of view, I imagine we'll probably be a billion 315 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 5: dollars less contribution to the state economy than the grain 316 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 5: industry is last year. So we're normally a four billion 317 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 5: dollar industry from grain production, and that's going to be 318 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 5: well down this year, that's for sure. 319 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: Okay, I don't reckon in Adelaide, in the city, we've 320 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: got a sense of that because we've had rain here. 321 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: I mean it rained as recently as Saturday, for goodness sake, 322 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: and the rain has been on and off throughout much 323 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: of the year. We had a late, really late sort 324 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: of autumn. You know, autumn extended right through to June, 325 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: but in terms of sunny, nice beautiful days, and then 326 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: winter started in June like you'd expect it to and 327 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: away we went and here in Adelaide, I don't know 328 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: that we felt the pain that perhaps your growers do 329 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: out further. 330 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's a really interesting one, Matthew. And we've seen 331 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 5: it over the last couple of years where it's quite patchy, 332 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 5: so there seems to be storm events a fall in 333 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 5: different areas. I think Adelaide has had the odd shower 334 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 5: that certainly hasn't made it out to most of regial 335 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 5: South Australia, particularly the cropping area, so has been very 336 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 5: very dry. And I think if you're from Adelaide and 337 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 5: you went and took a drive around the state, it 338 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 5: wouldn't take too much to see just how dry it 339 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 5: is out there. Although some crops did emerge, so there 340 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 5: was a little bit of green out there, but they 341 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 5: were so low they hadn't got that growth that we needed. 342 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 5: And you know, that's One of the challenges is that 343 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 5: if you're from someone outside of the industry, you do 344 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 5: see that there are green crops out there and you think, oh, yep, 345 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 5: that's going okay. But the reality is underneath those crops 346 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 5: there's no soil moisture to keep them growing. 347 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, and that's important. Obviously. I was talking to 348 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: a grower earlier in the year, in fact, it was 349 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: late May and they'd made the decision late May that 350 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 1: they would seed, and hundreds of thousands just they must 351 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: have a lot of land. I don't know how big 352 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: the property is, but spent hundreds of thousands in preparing 353 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: the land in fertilizer in you know, just all the 354 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: prep work that needs to be done to seed. And 355 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: that's something else in Adelaide we don't appreciate that obviously, 356 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: just the expense involved in getting a crop together. 357 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 5: Yeah, exactly right, Matthew. So input costs such as fertilizer 358 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 5: or fuel chemicals are all really high at the moment 359 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 5: and have been for a number of years. Price returns 360 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 5: have been okay as a result, so it's sort of 361 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 5: balanced out. But what we're saying here in South Australia 362 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 5: and South Australia is a unique situation because really only 363 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 5: in South Australia and parts of Victoria that are experiencing drought, 364 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 5: So the rest of Australia mostly is going okay from 365 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 5: a grain perspective, So we're in a unique position. But 366 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 5: what we're saying is high inputs. So growers have invested 367 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 5: to put in crops, you know, protect the crops from weeds, 368 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 5: et cetera, spend a lot of money and a lot 369 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 5: of them aren't going to get any return. In some 370 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 5: areas there are no crops of crops in the merge 371 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 5: at all, so they're spending all that money, they won't 372 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 5: get anything back. Others will try and cut for seed 373 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 5: for next year to try and get something back, and 374 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 5: then others who've got enough growth will cut the hay 375 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 5: and get a small return. 376 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: Yeah okay, so true. And if there's no return, probably 377 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,239 Speaker 1: there's an overdraft to pay for what's gone in. And 378 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: you don't get anything back, you know, you'd be hoping 379 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: next year as well. You'd be praying next year is 380 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: a lot better. 381 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 5: Well, that's right. So that's where it becomes really tough 382 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 5: for a grower. So you know, a lot of growers 383 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 5: would have put money away for a bad year because 384 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 5: we've had some good years in recent time, so you know, 385 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 5: a lot of them would have expected there to be 386 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 5: a drought or or some challenges coming up, so there's 387 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 5: some money away, And what will really hit hard is 388 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 5: if there's you two have a drought, that will really 389 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 5: start to put a pressure on growers bottom line. 390 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I imagine Brad, you'd be talking with other sectors 391 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: in your overall industry, like great growers and dairy farmers 392 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: and certainly the poor old tomato fruit and veg farmers 393 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: about some of the issues facing the industry. You know, 394 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: just as an outsider looking in, you'd have to say, 395 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: to be a terrible time at the moment to be 396 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: trying to be a primary producer. 397 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 5: That's sort of the way that it does seem to 398 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 5: go in agriculture. But yeah, certainly it's certainly very tough 399 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 5: for just about all commodities at the moment. So I 400 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 5: think I was sort of a citrus grow on the 401 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 5: weekend and may seem to be doing okay, but it's 402 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 5: it's hard to find a commodity that isn't hit by 403 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 5: some sort of big challenge at the moment, so we 404 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 5: certainly do talk. We've got an overarching body called Primary Producer, say, 405 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 5: where all the eight commodities meet together. So we're discussing 406 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 5: everything in the moment, as you can imagine being quite 407 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 5: long because there's so many issues that they're on the agenda. 408 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I can imagine that indeed, And you know, 409 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: farmers no different to anyone else. Cost of living affecting 410 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: people in the city sets farmers out in the regions too. 411 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 5: Oh exactly, Yeah, it's everything going to see it. We 412 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 5: even look at council rates are going up as well, 413 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 5: and you know that the taxes keep on rising and 414 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 5: just even even trying to live. And the challenge that 415 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 5: farmers have as well is if they make money, they 416 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 5: spend that in their local community. So a lot of 417 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 5: the local regional towns rely on grain producers in particularly 418 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 5: having a good year so they can spend that money. 419 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 5: Whereas if you know this year is there's not going 420 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 5: to be any money, so people aren't going to be 421 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 5: buying what they used to, you know, even things like machinery, 422 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 5: but even just spending money at the local bakery, they 423 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 5: may have to cut back. So whatever it is, it's 424 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 5: going to be tough around. 425 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I suppose too. That's that's all we can do 426 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: in the city is try and support you by buying 427 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,880 Speaker 1: a finished product, you know, a loafe of bread or something, 428 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: a bakery item or whatever it might be, to try 429 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: and hope that money somehow finds its way back to 430 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: the agricultural sector. Yeah. 431 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 5: It's a tough one for us, Matthew, because we're an 432 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 5: export industry to eighty percent of our product actually does 433 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 5: go overseas to export markets, and so it is hard 434 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 5: to actually say go out and buy a life because 435 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 5: you know whether that's coming back. But I think the 436 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 5: most important thing is probably you know, if you're from 437 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 5: the city, go out go to those regions and support 438 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 5: the local businesses there who may be struggling from a 439 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 5: lack of investment over the next twelve months from you know, 440 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 5: from grower in the region. 441 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, good advice, all right, Brad, really appreciate your time. 442 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. No worries, Thanks Ma, Brad Perry 443 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: from the Grain Producers SA CEO of that. Hopefully they 444 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: get some late finishing rains to give the crops that 445 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: are there a bit of a boost from now to 446 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: well November November December when they start cropping. But it 447 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,880 Speaker 1: hasn't been a good season. Been very dry this year 448 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: out in the regions and yes in Adelaide. Most recently 449 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: the weekend we've had quite a decent amount of rain 450 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: showers on Saturday. I don't know what it does to 451 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: our average for the month of September, but I'm sure 452 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 1: it gave it a boost along out in the regions 453 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: they need it desperately, and a lot more as well.