Eighth generation dairy farmer Tracey Russell said the dry conditions were the worst she had seen since she took her first steps on the family farm east of Nowra on the New South Wales south coast 52 years ago.
«I actually went for a mental health walk on the beach because I had totally had enough,» Ms Russell said.
«I spend most of my time working out which cows I have to send away and that’s breaking my heart.»
Uncertainty, isolation, lack of control
Ms Russell’s family milks just over 700 cattle on the property but they are now uncertain of their future.
«We’re at the mercy of the supermarkets, we’re at the mercy of the processors that process our milk and we don’t set the price for anything,» she said.
«The only thing we have control of is how much feed we have to bring in through the front gate and we don’t even have control over the price of that at the moment.
«It’s extreme. I don’t know if we’re even going to survive.»
According to Ms Russell, isolation makes the struggle more difficult to handle on a daily basis.
«We don’t get the opportunity to get out and even to talk to other farmers and when we do, it’s because we’re at crisis point,» she said.
Conference provides opportunity to seek support
Dozens of female dairy farmers from across Australia are meeting at the annual Women in Dairy conference being held at Jamberoo, on the state’s south coast.
The event provides an opportunity for women to network and share the challenges they face living on the land.
Conference chair Megan Nicholson said delegates would be discussing how they coped with running their families and business and farms, all under one roof.
Ms Nicholson said the committee had considered cancelling the event due to the pressures currently facing women in the industry.
But for the same reason, she said it was important for the event to go ahead and anticipates it will be an emotional experience for many attendees.
«Sometimes [being a dairy farmer] is 24/7 you don’t get a break from it and because there’s less of us, we’re feeling quite isolated as well,» she said.
«So we are going to share all of these topics and it is going to be quite challenging.»
Women encouraged to consider dairy careers
South coast dairy farmer Laura Burn is among the dozens of women attending the three-day event.
Dairy farming for the 33-year-old is not a birthright — she chose to pursue a career in the industry after feeling dissatisfied working in retail and hospitality.
«A dairy traineeship came up and I kind of jumped at the opportunity and haven’t looked back since. I love it,» Ms Burn said.
She manages a robotic dairy farm at Numbaa, east of Nowra, and said it had taken her some adjusting to become comfortable with the unfamiliar lifestyle.
«The early mornings were a big shock,» Ms Burn laughed.
«The hail and rain wants to keep you inside sometimes, but you’ve just got to get outside in it, put on your plastic covers and head out.
«The cows don’t care if it’s raining or if it’s 40 degrees, so they’ll keep doing what they do.»
This is the first drought Ms Burn has experienced during her time working in the dairy industry.
«Seeing cows that are going off to sale and the condition that they’re in, it is heart breaking,» she said.
Gender no barrier to success in dairy
Despite being a male-dominated industry, Ms Burn said she had not felt held back being a woman and was well-supported by her male counterparts on the farm.
«I’m received pretty well — I think most of them just see me as one of the blokes,» she said.
Ms Burn is now a member of the Developing Dairy Leaders’ program, encouraging other women to pursue a career in the industry.
She said women should not be deterred by the challenges but instead, buoyed by the rewards of a diverse and fulfilling role in an important industry.
«Just get out there and do it,» she said.
«It’s a great industry and you get to work with some awesome animals, it’s good fun, and there’s an awesome support network out there if you need it.»
