Producers on the South Coast are facing a grim outlook as dams dry up and feed supplies run short, with some saying they have never seen such extremes before.
Livestock feed is in short supply, with producers in the south of the state paying a premium to keep their animals fed.The state government has asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to establish a 2024 Dry Season Response Taskforce.
Denmark Transport driver Matt Cybula usually carts hay, grain, fertiliser and lime around the Frankland River region 330 kilometres south of Perth. "In terms of mental health, they're struggling because they don't want to see their animals suffer," he said.Denmark beef producer Ken Bourke, who has farmed cattle in the region for over 30 years, said fields that would normally be green with grass were bare, forcing him to turn to feedstock."I've got plenty of hay and silage now, so I'm not so worried … But I know people are hurting out there".
Mr Mitchell said it was time the government addressed the issues facing the state's producers before it reached a tipping point. "Farmers need to be prepared, and farmers know this already, that our seasons are getting hotter and drier," she said.
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