GROWERS are describing 2011 as their “worst year ever” as a dry spring follows hard on the heels of the driest winter in almost a century.
Upper Capel orchardist Steve Dilley has never seen anything like the current season. “We’ve gone from August weather straight to November,” he said last week.
“The frightening part is that 2001 and 2006 were similar, but we’ve never had a dry spring on top of a dry winter and it is causing a lot of concern.”
Fruit growers who were able to pump were flat out trying to fill their dams before creeks slowed — but they were losing hours in the orchard by doing so.
“We’re hoping to God we get some spring and summer rain,” Mr Dilley said.
“In 2001 we had 50mm in December, which saved a lot, but if we don’t get any rain between now and the breaking rains in May, it’s going to be pretty serious.”
Mr Dilley said a lack of rain usually meant smaller fruit. If fruit volume was down as a result of growers thinning hard, a shortage of apples could see retail prices rise. “If trees are really severely drought stressed, it can impact on next year’s crop,” he said.
Beef farmer John Fry said his hay crop would be just 30 to 40 per cent of normal this year due to the lack of rain. “There’s no growth at the moment,” Mr Fry said. “Some paddocks won’t recover. We need a couple of inches in October to make it any good now.”
Mr Fry said he would most likely graze some of the hay paddocks to give his stock more feed, and allow him to carry his existing numbers over to summer.
Other producers who did not make their own hay would have to source it from elswhere, meaning hay would be in demand this year.
People who normally buy hay may have to reduce cattle numbers but buying back next year could be more expensive.
Mr Fry said his stock water dams were all lower than normal and his irrigation dam was at its lowest level in 55 years. “It’s the least amount of run-off into the dam we’ve ever had,” he said.
If there is no rain between now and next May, Mr Fry said, he would have to unload some of his cattle and preserve only his core breeding stock.
Other waterways are also very low, including the Preston River in Donnybrook.
Donnybrook resident James Connolly, whose property borders the river, said while the river tended to get as low every year, the speed with which it had reached its low point this year demonstrated the lack of rain. “The dam overflowed for only two days this winter,” he said.
Water Minister Graham Jacobs said there had never been a year like this, when actual total inflow to dams supplying South-West towns had flat-lined.
