Farmers are under extra pressure as dry conditions continue and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke urged them to seek assistance if they needed it.
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“We are here to help,” Ms Cooke said.
She said farmers are encouraged not to self asses but contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority or Local Land Services.
Ms Cooke rejected a call by Cootamundra’s Shooters Party candidate, Matt Stadtmiller, for livestock fodder and transport subsidies.
“The message I’ve been hearing is that our farmers don’t want handouts, they want flexible and smart support tailored to their specific needs and operations,” Ms Cooke said.
“The NSW Government already has in place transport subsidies for animal welfare and donated fodder.
“Across the Cootamundra electorate we’ve been lucky, there are areas much worse hit across NSW with the majority of the electorate described as “drought affected” rather than in drought.”
Local Land Services has run several workshops around the Riverina to help combat dry conditions and continued to work with landholders individually.
“The NSW Drought Strategy focuses on preparedness, improved decision making and targeted support, with assistance measures available all year round, regardless of conditions,” Ms Cooke said.
“The strategy, boosted by $284 million in the 2018 State Budget, includes management information and tools, transport subsidies for animal welfare, financial support such as the Farm Innovation Fund, a rural resilience program, rural support workers and financial counselling and skills and training subsidies.”
The latest seasonal update and information on services can be found online at www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au.