$1.

60 GST INC
E S T A B L I S H E D I N 1 8 7 9
Wednesday February 5, 2014
Its dry but dont
use the d word
By Oliver Watson
An increasing number of Yass
Valley farmers are relying solely on
bore water, with dams and creek
beds drying up around the region.
But, according to some, the odd
shower would be next to no help
until March comes around.
The problems farmers are expe-
riencing with lack of water come off
the back of an especially dry time
leading into the 2013/2014 summer.
Bruce Hazell, who has been
working on his property Kia-Ora
since 1958, revealed it was particu-
larly abnormal.
The amount of water we got
going into summer was the lowest
amount that I can recall, he said.
His second property Glen-Iris,
which he runs in conjunction with
his son, is also drying up quickly
and he said both would be com-
pletely reliant on bore water in
around a months time. His saving
grace is a small creek running
through the property.
Yeah its surprising the creek is
producing really good, clean water
which is helpful.
Binalongs David Sykes, who
owns Glendalyn, agreed with Mr
Hazell and said if he could choose
when he wanted rain it would be in
a month.
If I could submit an order for
rain, I reckon Id order it for the first
week of March. Unfortunately you
cant do that.
He said his paddock dams
werent completely empty but were
drying up rapidly.
In line with what Mr Hazell said,
Mr Sykes said a small amount of
rain wouldnt be helpful.
A small amount could actually
cause more harm than good. Rain
could bring up weeds, its not
always great for sheep, [it] can
cause fly strike, and any feed left
may be ruined.
This is healthy weather for
sheep, internal parasites arent a
problem so as long as they have
water and adequate feed the sheep
do well in the dry heat.
Bookham Agriculutral Bureau
president and Berremangra farmer
Richard Hyles has a different view-
point and said any precipitation is
welcome.
Anything that comes at the
moment would be better than noth-
ing, he said.
He said he didnt have enough
dry feed to worry about it being
ruined by the rain and that most of
his dams were completely dry.
There is also the fact that peo-
ple around here are running really
low on tank water, and any rain
helps with that.
Mr Hazell said the word
drought wasnt being used in
farming circles and it was just a
water issue at the moment.
Its not a great time of the year
for us farmers but I think if we can
get through February alright, March
will hopefully sort us out and that
will set us up for the rest of the
year.
Showgirl
Emily
through to
state finals,
page 4
Your
Cutest
Pets
announced,
page 7
Pick up
Fridays
Trib for our
Kindys
feature!
Bruce Hazell in
one of his many
dried out dams on
his 500-acre Kia-
Ora property just
past Bookham.
Photo: Oliver
Watson.
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