The area around Durham Ox, in north-central Victoria, has experienced its driest period in 140 years, says mixed farmer Chris Harrison, Hopefield. “I have a 92 year old uncle who says he’s never seen the country as bare, or dry,” Mr Harrison said. Irrigation, under the Goulburn Murray system, took the pressure off, during drought. “This year, we have more than 200 megalitres of water less – while there’s not a direct translation, it’s usually the last 10-15 per cent (of water) you make your profit on. If you don’t get a full amount, you can’t actually finish all your crops, or your pasture, and it makes it that much harder,” he said. Mr Harrison said he used Concordia, Fernihurst, bloodlines. “It depends on how well you feed them, you can get nine kilograms off a ewe, at 22-23 microns,” Mr Harrison said.
“Drought is extremely tough, you get people really depressed. When there’s dust and bare ground and your sheep are being hand fed, it makes you sad - you know what it can be in a good year but all you look at is bleakness.
