After the February/March Floods, feed for agricultural animals was affected adversely, as paddocks had become toxic through flood mud initially, and animals who had survived, required extra feed support to ensure their recovery from the strain floods put on their health and growth.

Recent flooding across NSW, SE QLD and VIC has similarly affected crop farmers which then become animal (and human) feed. NSW Farmers spokesperson Vice President 

Rebecca Riordan told media today "Gunnedah has flooded for the 4th time, and even the areas where flood waters have receded in the region, the roads are incredibly damaged, which is causing issues with transporting to market on top of the wipeout of crops. It's been widespread, with effects seen across everything grain, vegetables and even the unflooded crops are affected in this massive food growing region. 

We saw hundreds of farmers over the past 8 months being supported through initiatives such as Feed For Friends and the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) efforts, coming from Southern NSW and Victoria with feed to support their recovery and although we are entering a high growth period, the Lismore App wanted to find out what would happen for our farmers, in the coming period regarding feed supplies.

Chris Magney NSW Farmers Northern Rivers Chairman (Casino Branch) said, "Dairy Farmers and people with large horse stock will be more affected due to the high grade and high feed requirements, and yes, there will be shortages, but these will also possibly be compensated by human-grade crops, which have been weather affected across the state, now being baled for stockfeed, if farmers can access their paddocks to cut and bale, which will be the biggest issue."

"We are entering a high growth period now, with the heat and moisture increasing paddock feed content, so most Northern Rivers grazier farmers will be OK, but there may be some restocking if farmers have to supplement feed, or have too many horses for their paddocks, for example.

"If farmers were supplemented with ryegrass feed that came from RRT, they may have 1 to 2acres of paddocks with good growth by now, but this could only adequately support 1 heifer and calf for the season", so while it helped, it hasn't solved the issue for most farmers on feed it seems."

The message here is to diversify, plant more, earlier, and stock up with a little bit extra to plan ahead where possible. Feed solutions such as Fodder Machines, which create high quality, nutrient-dense sprouted feed from seed as well as different types of feed options, or larger area, increased paddock rotations may be required to ensure there is enough feed going forward into the third La Niña period.