While East Gippsland has had plenty of moisture, some farmers on the South Gippsland coastline say they are in a ‘green drought’.
Warren and Kerrie Redmond lease three dairy farmers in the Inverloch area, milking about 1,000 cows.
They have leased the properties for 13 years and have never had to buy in silage or hay.
Mr Redmond said that could change this year.
«We’ve had a reasonable season up until now, the rain has come at the right time to keep our grass growing,» he said.
«It’s been a comfortable winter running around in leather boots, but our water situation — I’ve never seen it as low at what it is now.
«We’ve only been getting 10 to 15 millimetres of rain in one dump.»
Mr Redmond said they needed to get decent rainfall, which creates run-off or else they might have to buy in water.
«Where our dairy farms are situated, there seems to be a strip from Wonthaggi to Yanakie that’s just not receiving the run-off,» he said
«Our cows are starting to drop [milk production], usually they would hold through to about December 10.
«We’ve increased feeding grain a little bit, I’m just holding off feeding silage. I’m holding off so we can get through the summer months.»
Source: ABC