Is Your Property Drought Declared?

ACCORDING to a map produced by the Bureau of Meteorology most of the Upper Hunter is in a 1 in 10 year drought, with some areas near Moonan in a 1 in 20 year drought.

However, the map shows the area between Scone and Merriwa is not statistically considered to have a 1 in 10 year “rainfall deficit”.

The map is one of the criteria used by the government to assess eligibility for a drought assistance concessional loan available through the New South Wales Rural Assistance Authority.

Terry Pearce, a rural financial counsellor said landholders should not be disheartened by the map if their property is not marked as in drought, as there are other measures used by the government to assess eligibility for the loan.

“For instance there was a farmer I was assisting who had a farm at Walgett and a farm near Kempsey; they’ve had next to no rain at Walget and they’d had rain at Kempsey and his Kempsey property fitted the criteria, because when youdon’t get much rain you’ve got to get next to nothing to qualify,” said Mr Pearce.

“When people don’t quite meet the criteria they can still apply for the loan as long as they can justify it through increased fodder expenses or having to sell livestock before they are finished because they have to destock or a failed crop due to not enough rainfall; so if they can show they have been affected by a rainfall deficiency they can still be approved under the scheme,” he said.

“The important message is, don’t self-assess, if you’ve been affected by the drought, contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service we are happy to put an application together with them,” he said.

“Don’t think because you are outside that area on the map by three mile, if they think they have a case contact us,” said Jim Pearce.

Contact a Rural Financial Counsellor:

• Rural Financial Counselling Service: 1800 686 175
• Scone: Angela Hayes: T: 6545 3544. Please note Ms Hayes is away this week, but other financial counsellors are available.
• Taree: T: 6651 5879
• Tocal: T: 4939 8942

Is your property drought declared? Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website, type in the latitude and longitude of your property and find out: Australian Rainfall Deficiency Analyser.

Related Stories:

• Time to Support Farmers in Drought – January 30, 2018.
• Help at Hand During Drought – January 24, 2018.
• Drought Support Session – January 23, 2018.
• Sell and Weep, but Sell Anyway – January 22, 2018.
• Small Mercy in Dire Drought – January 18, 2018.