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Drought forces Tassie to import feed grain

Tasmanian feed grain imports are up about 80 per cent in 2007 compared to previous years.

The huge increase is due to dry conditions through the centre of the state and strong demand from dairy farmers looking to capitalise on high milk prices.

Frank de Bruyn from Rural Co says Tasmania has imported more than 200,000 tonnes of feed this year.

"We normally count on having a fairly seasonal wave, if you like," he says.

"If you talk a calendar year, the start of the year is typical local harvest, so it's somewhat slower, then it ramps up in the March April period, slows down again through the dairy, in the winter months, then accelerates again through spring.

"This year we've seen it pretty well constant right across the year".

Tags · Tasmania · Australia · Feed Grain

12.12.2007. 01:26

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