Ag companies unite to help Esperance

This week more than 50 tonnes of sheep feed was donated to producers affected by the fires.

Milne Feeds worked with Esperance Freight Lines to deliver a load of EasyOne pellets to the Milne Feeds Esperance depot last week.

Milne donated the pellets and Esperance Freight Lines carted them for free.

Milne Feeds sheep product manager Reg Crabb said sheep producers left with livestock after the fires will be able to come to the depot to collect a share of feed.

"We have one truck load at this stage," Mr Crabb said.

"The product is there now."

Mr Crabb said the company recognised it was the worse case scenario for a farmer to be burnt out, so they wanted to help those producers.

"We were thinking we needed to help out any way we could," he said.

"They have had a pretty horrific experience down there so we just want to do whatever we could.

"I have spoken to a few people who have lost everything.

"They were completely burnt out.

"It is just horrible."

Esperance Freight Lines owner Michael Harding said the transportation of sheep feed was just one of many donations for the cause.

"There has been a trailer load of hay and half a dozen more to come also sent to Esperance," Mr Harding said.

"We are storing it until people are ready to evaluate and come and collect it, which will probably be after harvest."

Mr Harding said the town has felt the loss of friends and their livelihoods, but "farmers soldier on".

"We didn't even hesitate in donating our services after what everyone has been through," he said.

Mr Harding said they will continue to offer transportation or assistance.

"If anyone wants to donate they just need to let us know, as we are happy to help out," he said.

For more information on the product visit http://www.milne.com.au/easyone.html or call Esperance Milne Feeds depot on 9071 1020.

Working alongside the Shire of Esperance, WAFarmers has also been assisting in the management of a donation register for items such as these.

The register includes clean seed for next year's crop, seed millet, agistment placements, items to repair properties such as fencing and water fittings, or any other items that would be useful to those affected.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA), livestock inspections on properties are almost finalised.

DAFWA has confirmed stock losses are approximately 4685 head of sheep as a result of the fires, with almost 100 agricultural properties in the Cascades and Merivale areas are estimated to have been impacted by the fires.

The inspectors have estimated that 75,000 hectares of cleared agricultural land has been affected by the fires and about 30,000 hectares of standing crop has been destroyed, being mainly wheat, along with barley and some minor crops.

The State Government also announced it would donate $100,000 to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund to help victims of the tragic Esperance fires.

Premier Colin Barnett said the State Government would also make an emergency assistance payment of $3000 to people whose houses have been destroyed.

CBH Group Board also approved a donation of $250,000 which will be made to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund – Esperance Fires Appeal, along with a raft of other support measures.

CSBP Fertilisers, together with Wesfarmers Ltd, announced last week that it will donate $130,000 to help the communities of the Esperance region recover.

CSBP Fertilisers general manager Charlie Perkins said CSBP would donate $80,000 through WAFarmers' Esperance Fire Appeal in addition to the $50,000 already donated by Wesfarmers Ltd through the Lord Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund – Esperance Fires Appeal.

"We'll also be providing free soil sampling and analysis to our customers, valued at approximately $75,000, to help farmers in the region understand their soils' fertility following the fires and help them prepare for the next cropping season," Mr Perkins said.

"Our team is on the ground working with customers that have been affected by the fires to ensure we can support them while they start to rebuild their farming operations.

"CSBP has been a part of the Esperance farming community for more than 50 years," Mr Perkins said. "We're looking to do whatever we can and hope our support can play some part in helping the recovery of those affected by the fires."

Mr Perkins said that CSBP's support would add to the work being done on the ground in Esperance by other Wesfarmers businesses, including Kleenheat, Target and Bunnings.

Growers wishing to find out more information should speak with their local CSBP area manager.

p If you wish to add a donation to the register or if you are a farmer seeking donated products, please call the donation register management office on (08) 9486 2100.