Bernard Hall is a pragmatist in the true sense of the word: At a time when no one would rightly deny him a little self pity, the farmer is matter-of-fact about the realities of life as an orchardist.
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“We’ve tried to make our property more drought proof – or Australia proof – but we are living on one of the driest continents on earth,” Mr Hall said.
This year more than most, it seems.
According to Bureau of Meteorology data, Orange has this year received less than half the rain it usually does.
From January to April there was 113 millimetres in our rain gauges, well down on the 20-year average of 256.6 millimetres.
April was especially dry, with just 14 millimetres falling from the skies.
The Halls are second generation orchardists, Mr Hall, wife Fiona and their three children have lived and worked at their property Caernarvon since 2000.
Mr Hall, who along with his brother Tim learnt the cherry- and apple-growing trades working on their father's orchard, said he hasn’t seen conditions this dry in nearly 30 years.
“Back in the 80s we had bad times, my memory of back then is pretty bleak,” he said.
“But back then you could make a decent wage off of 40 acres. Now it’s more like 70-100 acres.”
Mr Hall said the drought has dried out their dam and they are in survival mode, trying to take care of the apples left on the trees to get them through the season.
“The sunburn has bleached a lot of the colour out of the fruit, which means the apples don’t go to market, they go to juice or peelers,” he said.
We need 200 millimetres of rain in the next few weeks to get run off into the dams.
- NSW Farmers Orange branch Chair Bruce Reynolds
A kilogram of whole apples is worth between $1.40 and $1.80 to the Halls. The same quantity destined for the juicer is worth between 20 and 30 cents.
Overnight temperatures have been warmer than average, which prevents Mr Hall’s apples ripening.
NSW Farmers Orange branch Chair Bruce Reynolds said livestock farmers are doing it tough too, as feed in the paddock has become very limited in the past month.
“In livestock – particularly cattle – there has been a huge sell off because the cost of hay’s gone up,” he said.
“Water is an issue for some. We need 200 millimetres of rain in the next few weeks to get run off into the dams.
“If we get half an inch from this next system it still won’t be enough, but it’ll be a nice start.”
Mr Hall said he would pray to God for rain.
“Sure we’re doing it tough, but who isn’t?” Mr Hall said.
“Ausses are Diggers; we battle away and we dig in.”
Alex Crowe
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
