NEW National Farmers Federation (NFF) president Jock Laurie said mixed farmers on the east coast may turn to livestock out of Western Australia as a means of earning an income should water-damaged crops prove to be unharvestable.
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Mr Laurie said all options needed to be assessed.
“Livestock are in short supply because of the impact of the drought, and its going to take a while to get the numbers back up,” he said.
Already, a million sheep have come over from Western Australia, which is enduring a drought, and the focus is now turns to cattle.
Mr Laurie said it may be an opportunity to get some return on failed crops.
“Any opportunities that are there, people in livestock will take into consideration.
“If people can’t get on their crops, maybe there is a chance there to utilise the grain that is there through feeding it to livestock – they’ll have to make that decision once the rain has cleared up.”
Mr Laurie said the sheep meat industry was buoyant, and along with positive signs in the cattle and wool sectors, it meant that the livestock complex as a whole was in a good position.
The rain means livestock producers will have access to dryland pastures virtually throughout the summer in areas that traditionally relied on feeding grain.
Grain crop stubbles will also be another strong source of feed.
