cont..

Various parts of the country have various drought expectations. In the liverpool plains, the drought expectation is one in every 10 years, in the central west it is one in every 7, further west to Walgett and you are looking at more like 2 in every 7. Farmers know these statistics and work around them. Land prices have reflected these expected returns (and lack of). Very few farmed areas though expect 5 poor to bad years in a row. This is why farmers are facing such a dire situation now. The sad fact is that this dry will knock such a whole in plans and finances that few will have recovered properly by the time the next normal dry comes around. A drought of this magnitude will affect farmers for many years to come. Another point to consider for those city-based people that are worried about constantly dipping into their pockets - drought is a constant factor of the Australian environment, but it normally doesnt hit every where at once. As another poster said (sorry, cant remember who), chances are at any one time, part of Australia qualifies for drought aid. But please dont think that this is all of the farmers, all of the time. The next time you are concerned about where your tax dollars are going in support of farmers, get your maps out and have a bit of a look. Even better, go for a drive, stop and have lunch in a drought affected town. Have a look for yourself.

Goodanye'Country Gal.
I used to run a mobile supply biz stocking up the cockies and tradespeople in the late 70's when another drought hit the country. Town's businesses just closed their doors.When the land dries up so does the income. What really p...es me orf is that honest to good small farmers have been bought out by big investment firms, with a water entitlement included, as to be able to serve their non-environmentally enterprises like cotton.Follow the money trail (going overseas)What one takes out of the soil needs to be replenished with similar stuff, wouldn't you say? Growing the same crops year in year out on the same plot with the addition of fertilizers drains the soil of all the right nutrients and organic matter until it is dead and waterless soil. I know that dry farming has it's own problems but hey that is what the farmers were told for generations by our governments how to use and what to use with this land. Organic farming would be the shot and this would be the best time to invest to bring along a change.Focussing on Australia's selfsustainability instead of exporting gas and coal to china,let's do some thinking here...let's be selfish and feed our mouths first (CHEAPLY) instead of selling our spare wheat to where ever! I know it sounds over-simplified, but the best ideas are generally SIMPLE! One cannot put a simple idea into a TOO HARD basket,that would really look stupid!
Anyhow I found the average australian farmer a good and hard working person how was always capable to look after his own future and the land he is borrowing from mother earth.
Anyone interested in ORGONE energy? Type it in google and find the watermaker. If unsuccessful type in "Rife"

Just my cup full of "fluoridated city of Melbourne water" worth(less)!!

I strongly advise keeping cotton out of the debate. There are few industries that generate a more emotive, and generally uninformed reponse than the cotton industry. However, they are not all the terrible environmental vandals that many would believe of them. I feel qualified to say this after having worked in the industry (and on a corporate cotton farm too - shock horror!!).

To those that advocate a corporatisation of Australian farm land, I assume that you are quite comfortable with the approach of say Cubbie Station, and the impact that this has on the Murray Darling system.

Interesting example, CG - isn't Cubbie about the biggest corporate cotton farm in the country? Exactly what is good about it, beyond earning export dollars, at the expense of all primary producers downstream?

I believe farming is the only occupation where when the times are bad the government bail you out. The argument that farming is the only occupation that we cannot live without is rubbish! Try living without doctors, plumbers (turds everywhere), teachers, nurses…………. Farmers are not in a league of their own in fact many farms were already in the family; therefore a mortgage wasn’t a problem like the rest of us. I bet that farmers pay far less tax than me and you even in the good times. When I worked at Longford gas plant on the restoration following the explosion I found that there were many farmers working on the oil rigs for one week then on the farm the next week because offshore was on a week on / week off roster, they were earning $120,000 plus a year offshore while buying new utes and motorbikes tax exempt because they were primary producers. Let’s not forget the farmers who supported the government in the waterfront dispute by grubbing on fellow Australians. I have no sympathy for farmers especially those that are uneducated and farming marginal land.

CJ you're correct. Whilst I think what Cubbie has done is quite clever in terms of drought-proofing their own property and ensuring viability for its investors, it has a huge impact on those downstream from it, including other farmers, towns (incl Adelaide) and the environment. Areas immediately across the border from Cubbie used to rely on regular floods to revegatate their country. Ok bearing in mind that these places would have missed out the last few years anyway, they missed out on a number of years production prior to this drought, because the floods didnt come down the river. Its a common thing to hear in QLD that any water that gets to the NSW border is wasted, because NSW govt has legislated a certain amount of "environmental" flow. Stupidly this is a set amount, instead of a percentage of the actual flow, which would see the environment given a realistic amount based on the season. But I digress. The simple fact of the matter is that corporate farms care more about short-term profits than long term sustainability. If the numbers turn bad for them they will simply sell up, rather than worry about how their kids and grandkids are going to make a living off the land.