Dry Conditions Cause Yield Drops for Victorian Dairy Farmers

Agricultural regions across Victoria are experiencing dry conditions, leading to a stark divide in farming operations. Riccardo Farming, which operates in Cobden, reported that silage yields in the south-west could be up to half of what was achieved last year. Gippsland dairy farmers are also sacrificing fodder quality to achieve volume after late winter rain delays.

The drought is causing plunging fodder yields and critically low stock water levels in the south-west. Farmers are facing input cost hikes of up to 30 per cent in northern areas, while beef producers are culling livestock earlier than usual to manage water scarcity.

Dairy farms are providing fresh milk and cream.