An old solution to a current problem is being pursued to help some livestock producers in drought affected areas of the country.
Elders branch manager, Hayden Lanyon, Mortlake, is proposing that road sides in his area in particular, be opened up for grazing the “long paddock”.
Mr Lanyon said the ongoing drought in NSW called for drastic measures to find solutions for producers.
He said was fielding six to nine phone calls every day from people looking for feed for their livestock.
That included one who was in tears, trying to desperately save their breeding cows.
Mr Lanyon said he had received a sympathetic ear from the local Moyne Shire where permits could be applied for to tape off nature strips on local roads.
However the problem with the minor roads was the smaller space available for grazing with the fence lines closer to the roads.
The main roads, under the control of VicRoads, were ideal to hold cattle for an extended time.
“It’’s a drop in the ocean, but every little bit can help,” he said.
“It could be one b-double of hundreds of cattle from different produces.”
Mr Lanyon invited representatives of local government, VicRoads and other relevant departments, to come together to work through the issues to get the idea going.
“Time is critical. There’s feed and moisture available around this region, but that won’t last for ever,” he said.
“The feed that is on roadsides now, if unutilised by livestock, will have to be burned to reduce the fire hazard.
“I’m happy to help work with any structure is needed to find the solution.
“But this needs to happen now,” he said.
VicRoads assesses applications to allow grazing stock on the road reserve of the arterial road network - taking into account road safety risks and environmental impacts, Regional Director South West, Mark Koliba, said.
“We know how devastating this drought has been for farmers in New South Wales and we're keen to support our northern neighbours,” he said.
“We encourage anyone who needs to make an application to get in touch.”
In the Mortlake area there had been plenty of rain, but stock were needed to use the feed before it dried off.
“The feed is short, but if we can retain this moisture, growth will increase for a time.”
The cattle could stay on the road and follow the season as it moved south. The feed would have good value in it well into the new year,
Mr Lanyon said that local producers might have the ability to take on some agistment by October, if the season continued to be favourable.
“Some northern producers are happy to fatten their cattle here and sell later in the year or early next year, and some have core breeders that would return home once the feed has run out down here,” he said.
Moyne Shire manager Environment and Regulatory Services, Robert Gibson, said approval was needed to graze road sides.
He said already the council was investigating the opportunity for a producer who was affected in the March fires to graze road sides.
Mr Gibson said there were a lot of roads in the shire, but many were too narrow.
“It’s in the mix, but we have to identify whereit (grazing) can happen,” he said.
