At the end of last year and the beginning of 2020, Leading Sheep circulated a series of newsletters summarising what Queensland sheep producers learnt while facing drought conditions. We have collated the responses received from across the region to provide a review of the key learnings.
- Look after yourself, your family and your friends.
- Plan with fixed dates to make decisions.
- Be flexible.
- Keep your stock in good enough condition that you still have options. Stock need to be strong enough to walk in the mud for a week if that’s how the drought breaks.
- Keep an eye on your stock and destock progressively and early.
As a follow-up, Leading Sheep asked members of the South West Consultative Committee to answer this question ‘What is one thing I need to do now to recover from the drought.’ Their key points were:
- Cash flow budgeting and evaluation of enterprise performance to put yourself in the best position to make good decisions when opportunities arise.
- Stock conservatively – especially considering current economic uncertainty.
- Consider options such as water ponding to increase pasture response from future rainfall.
- Check in on your neighbours – this season has been very patchy and not everyone might be experiencing the same relief that you are feeling.
Leading Sheep invites you to contribute to this discussion via your local Leading Sheep Coordinator:
- South West – Hannah McKillop: mckillopavondale@outlook.com 0419 954 738
- North and Central West – Ingrid Miller: makingmilestones@outlook.com.au 0467 566 728
- South – Noel O’Dempsey: odempseyn@gmail.com (07) 4653 1441
Leading Sheep – maximising productivity in good and hard times.