00:00Dams that were dry just two months ago now have water and May's dusty paddocks are looking
00:10green once again.
00:12But looks aren't everything, this short grass still isn't enough to sustain livestock.
00:17We're on a full grain ration for the sheep that are here as well as silage and hay as
00:23well to keep up for the fibre.
00:25Most producers are very well set up for dry periods and what we would call droughts.
00:31It's just when you get two or three droughts in a row.
00:35Despite the recent rain, most of the Riverina is still drought affected and producers are
00:40turning to workshops for advice.
00:43We're going to be against the wall, have our back against the wall in trying to manage feed
00:47costs, manage budgets and source feed available to meet the demands of the stock that they've
00:52got.
00:53New South Wales farmers can apply for low interest loans of up to $250,000.
00:58But many farmers say that help with freight costs for fodder is urgently needed.
01:04In a statement, New South Wales Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says the government is
01:08monitoring the situation in the Riverina and the assistance required.
01:13Rightly so.
01:14The people have been flooded of getting support.
01:16But in southern New South Wales we haven't had any support at all.
01:19And that's been a little bit frustrating I must admit.
01:22While livestock producers are facing a tough winter, the rain's been a game changer for
01:26croppers.
01:27It's a couple more plants growing quite healthy.
01:30The gamble on planting his crop early has paid off.
01:34We've had 80 mils and that's a significant amount of rain so that'll give us a lot of leeway
01:39that are heading forward for these crops.
01:42Shoots of hope for a better season ahead.
01:44Elder Smith
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