THE latest flood and resultant financial difficulties could see producers and farmers leave the industry says Monto Cattle and Country livestock agent Brad McInally.
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“Unless the banks start lending, I think there will be a lot of people go,” he said.
“A lot of producers in the area are really hurting - they’re really stressed about the financial burden and were only just starting to get over the last flood.”
Rebuilding and repairing fences was a priority for producers across the region, however Mr McInally said with quotes of $23/post, the cost could quickly escalate.
Dan Sullivan, Sullivan Livestock, Gympie, told a similar story to Mr McInally, saying the amount of damage throughout the region was incredible.
“There’s certainly a lot of heartache in the North and South Burnett area and also around Gympie,” he said.
“It has affected a lot of people financially and I think it’s going to be awhile before we get back to a sense of normality.”
The flooding throughout central and eastern Queensland as well as the dry weather in the western parts of the State was reflected in the reduced number of cattle through the saleyards last week.
MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service, reported total Queensland throughput was back 84 percent, with Toowoomba, Warwick, Moreton and Murgon not operating.
The Roma store sale yarded 73pc less cattle than the week before, while numbers at Dalby were reduced by about 87pc.
Livestock Market Analyst Damon Holmes said there were also brief shut downs at some abattoirs as transporting cattle was an issue last week.
“However the majority are back in operation and catching up on a few lost days,” he said.
“Despite the higher prices last week, predominately due to a shortening in supply, markets so far have improved, although the coming weeks will be interesting as producers re-evaluate their stocking rates and decide to either hold stock, or work hard to secure suitable lines.”
