It might be just enough for one feed for a depleted herd or it might last a week - but for Snowy Mountain farmers a free big bale of hay was a gift that was gratefully accepted.
Last week in Berridale, 59 farmers were given such a gift from a fellow farmer in South Australia - Eldon Oster.
Mr Oster has been donating hay to farmers in drought stricken regions all over the country for more than ten years.
He is both a hay grower and a contractor, but this load of wheaten straw he grew himself on his property on the York Peninsula.
Transporter Daryl Kneebody was paid by the Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) to drive the two days that it took to deliver this gift to our farmers.
This is the third delivery this year to south eastern NSW .
Candelo and Ando farmers received their hay earlier this year.
Monaro farmers were initially invited to apply for the hay.
The LHPA then rang farmers who they knew might appreciate the donations.
Each farmer was offered one large bale and given a set time to collect it on Tuesday.
Some farmers pulled an extra trailer to help deliver to neighbours.
The truck delivered the load of hay, worth more than $10,000, to a designated Berridale property last Tuesday.
The pick up was arranged by LHPA Ranger Rob Freebody from Cooma.
The large bales, measuring “8’ x 3’ x3’”, would sell for roughly $200 each and would feed either sheep or cattle.
Local farmer Dave Woodhouse donated his time and his machinery to unload the transport truck and load each bale individually for the farmers who came to collect.
Ross Russell who runs sheep at his property in Adaminaby was amazed by people’s generosity.
“There are some really generous people around,” he said as he loaded his bale. Mr Russell is feeding ewes and thought this would last him a week.
Numbla Vale cattle farmer Nick Kirshner has sold most of his Angus stock due to the drought and is down to only fifty breeders.
He brought his young daughter Maddy and her friend Amy to see the fodder pick up and, like Ross Russell, was surprised and grateful for the donation.
“We’re feeding three times a week. This will only do one feed - but it will help,” said Mr Kirshner.
“ We are the driest we have been in the last thirty years. We have 650 acres and we are on a 3 1/2 kilometre creek and we have been down to just water holes. No one can remember it like this.
“The rain today is great but last night we got four millimetres, neighbouring areas got thirty. It is so localised. It has to be our turn soon,” hoped Mr Kirshner.
The Kirshners applied for the donated hay three months ago and are pleased to be included in this week’s fodder pick up. Mr Kirshner was pleased that farmers were contacted by the LHPA.
“Some people are almost too embarrassed to ask,” he said.
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