This morning we are woken by a huge commotion coming from next door. The neighbours are off on holidays and the cows have got into their garden. 9 kids and numerous adults jump to the rescue taking 3 horses, one overladen quad bike, a battered ‘ute’, 2 crazy farm dogs intent on being run over and 1 slightly overweight house Labrador to bolt down the long dirt drive and up to next doors ‘garden’ to rid the place of 3 very bewildered looking cows with 2 calves in tow. By the time the crazy dogs had chased the cows into the nearby dam, the kids on horseback had raced around the yard and then the lumbering Labrador entered the fray the Cows were taking off down the driveway to safer pastures and the neighbours yard was quite the worse for wear. Don’t think will be invited back there in a hurry!
The kids spent the day going to and fro between the horse yards and the lower paddocks riding to their hearts content. Both Toby and Chloe just love all 4 Groat girls, as they are just soooo patient and kind. A dip in the freezing pool between rides kept everyone happy.
The property looks totally different to when we were here last year at Easter when the dry season ‘drought’ was in full swing. No longer is there dust covering the paddocks, no longer is the land behind to house devoid of ground cover. Now everything is green, stands of canola stretch upwards towards the sunlight, the horses wade through greenery and the scrub behind the house is covered in weeds, the kids constantly picking burrs from their socks. Unfortunately though despite much needed rains at sowing time there has been little lately and the crops (canola & wheat if I remember correctly) although tall are starting to yellow on the vine – rain is needed and soon. The irony of it all is that the main house and garden are connected to town water and has unrestricted usage – the garden is thriving and the pool remains full. The rest of the property relies on either rain water from above or irrigation water from the main canal. This year like 2007 the Groats have ‘0’ water allocation so despite the water flowing in an open, unlined ditch along the entire length of the property they are unable to use it. The wastage from this antiquated system is evident in the greenery for 10-20m on either side of the canals as the water seeps outwards. If the water could be contained in enclosed pipes I’m sure the amount saved from evaporation could probably supply most properties in the area.
The Groats face a daunting problem, as the planet hots up and places like Griffith receive and even less reliable rain supply how to they make ends meet on a small irrigation property originally brought to grow rice?
Mark has an ingenious solution – his idea has been to plough his land into very different contours, with tree lined corridors (acting as both wind breaks and shelters) to make a series of small electric fence lined paddocks that can be used to grow out lambs. The sheep would be rotated through the paddocks in succession and then empty paddocks irrigated to promote the growth of subterranean clover and annual ryegrass pastures for the next flock. So now where does he get his water?? In good years that’s easy as the canal allocation will make the system work. Also in good years he can utilise surrounding dry paddocks to grow wheat, barley, oats, lupins & canola as supplemental income. But what about when there is little or no water allocated from the canals?
After much discussion I came to believe their only long term viable solution would be to trade in their general security licence and buy ‘high security’ water which although at a premium will mean the property remains productive despite drought conditions which are set to continue or worsen in the future. On years where rainfall is plenty they will end up paying a premium for water but dry crops can supplement income and in drought years the bills can still be paid.
I would not like to be a farmer at this time, anywhere in the world, things are just so uncertain and I feel great admiration for this couple who refuse to give in.
The Groat Farm, Myall Park
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