Since I last posted we've had just under 5 inches of rain... After what was a promising start to the 2010 harvest season we are now looking at disappointing crops of shot wheat....
We're trying to stay positive, re-assessing our options, deciding whether or not to still sell our wheat even though it will now only bring $140 per tonne (if we're lucky) instead of the $300 that it was just over a week ago... sigh....
We're trying to stay positive, re-assessing our options, deciding whether or not to still sell our wheat even though it will now only bring $140 per tonne (if we're lucky) instead of the $300 that it was just over a week ago... sigh.... 
All the while we are ever so thankful that we still have a crop to strip and there will still be some money hitting the bank to lessen our burdens... We are not flood affected and have not lost everything, it's going to be tight for a while but at least we have something, right????!!??Last Friday DH had a phone call from a friend who told him of a farmer at Walgett who took his life that morning with a riffle. He had a wife and a young family and after 10 years of drought and disappointment thought that this year would be his saving grace... So, he went in deep and planted up big... He has lost everything due to the rains and now his family has lost more, him.....
Hi Jodie, I am new follower to your blog but already am loving stopping by. I was saddened to hear of your crop situation, but even sadder to hear of the farmer from Walgett. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
ReplyDeleteIts really been tough the last few years, for those living on the land. Sorry your harvest hasnt turned out to be what you expected. We might be the lucky country, but it can be pretty crap sometimes...
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear of the farmer.... something like that affects the whole farming community I think.... hope you get something reasonable from your crop.... the pictures look so beautiful....
ReplyDeleteHugz
We wanted the drought to end, but not with all the devastation that these rains have caused.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragedy that poor family has to deal with now and what your family is also dealing with. Hopefully you'll get something out of your crop.
I wish you and your family well and all the farming community in this difficult time.
Sorry to hear about your crop. Farming is a tough occupation. I don't think people realize how much everything costs and how little we get for it. I'm so sorry to hear about the suicide. That is so sad. Keep your chin up.
ReplyDeleteOh no that is awful - so much rain -I am glad you are seeing some positives. We are still in drought here - swo crossing our fingers for a good next winter.
ReplyDeleteI think the suicide rate among farmers is relatively high. They find it hard to look for and accept help when things are bad. I feel terribly for the man's family and the anguish that he must have been experiencing.
ReplyDeleteI know that your harvest is disappointing this year but you and your husband sound like you have the right attitude and know what is really important.
Take care,
Tracy
I am sorry. I have been thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteWe were in the Riverina last week and it is the same down there :( I love the rural life, but it is hard. I wouldn't be anywhere else but it is times like these I am glad a past drought already claimed the family holding to spare us from the worst.
Hi Jodie, I'm so sorry to hear of your crop degredation... there are many farmers suffering the same plight right now.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can reap some benefits after all your hard work.
We've had soooo much water.. crazy.
I'm saddened to hear of the death of another farmer who's had enough.
Take care of you and yours.
hugs and well wishes,
Robyn xx
You always hear the odd story on the news about suicides amongst farmers but not very often. I am sure the number must be pretty high as financial stress is a very hard one to deal with. I hope you and your family can at least salvage some good returns for your wheat and dont lose too much. We have had so much rain now that we have gone totally the opposite of the drought I think. I do hope the community can come together to help the family who have lost their farmer friend. It is always devastating to hear such things.
ReplyDeletehi jodi,
ReplyDeletewhat a tragic story. sadly this has been going on for years. these poor guys feel hopeless and helpless and driven to end it all. farming is so difficult and most people are not aware of that.
sorry re your disappointment but you have a great attitude which i am sure will get you through.
x
Some awesome pictures. I wish you and your family well in these difficult times. “When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” anonymous.
ReplyDeleteJodie, It can be so soul destroying to see all that work be ruined by flood or drought.
ReplyDeleteYou are right in thinking that it could be worse. ...that poor poor family....those poor little kids..I hope you salvage more than you expect..
How heartbreaking. Having just lost a friend to suicide I can to begin to imagine. My heart goes out to him and his family.
ReplyDeleteHoping that there is a silver lining to the grey clouds for you.
All the best.
xx
That is so Sad...can't Imagine what it would be like to have been in that situation for him...his poor family are left to deal with it now...
ReplyDeleteHope you can get something for your crop...
take care
How devastating for that family!. I hope that you will be able to get what you need from your crops.
ReplyDeleteI know you had high hopes for this year's crop. So sorry that Mother Nature decided to intervene.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear of the farmer who felt such dispair. But suicide is such a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Hopefully his family will have friends and family to gather round them and help them at this sad time.
so sad for your crop situation - It is hard to watch farming families struggle on year after year. Praying you get what is left off your paddocks & some money for it. My family have found themselves in the same situation - costs won't even be covered.
ReplyDeleteit sucks really...........know exactly how your feeling......
ReplyDeleteHi Jodie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these hard and terrible moments, you give us insight in to the real heart and soul of where our food stuff comes from - it's your livelihood! Very sobering.
Melania x
Oh Jodie the land is so hard is it not, we are getting that story a lot up here too! Good on you for keeping your chin up and dealing with the dissapointments and moving on. One day at a time right!! Hugs Jen
ReplyDeletePS Love the photo of your two farmers :-)
Oh Jodie, you bought tears to my eyes. The first thing I thought when I first heard about the floods was how unfair and hard it is for farmers - I can't believe how hard they work for so few good seasons
ReplyDeleteThat's why I try so hard to buy Australian grown and made, but it is hard to find them and then with prices so high - but I try to do my tinist of little bit
Including buying only Australian wool and cotton yarn ☺
Big Hugs, Jodie.
ReplyDeleteHope there's more in there than you are expecting.
xx
Oh, what a sad post. I've been watching the flooding on the news and have been thinking of you, hoping that your crop were harvested before the rain came :-(
ReplyDeleteHugs from NZ. Hope things improve.
There will be a lot of sad farmers around with all this rain and ruined crops. It is sad story and my heart goes out to his family. You farmers need a medal and deserve twice as much for your crop .... farming is a hard job.
ReplyDeleteOh...NOOOOO....thats just one huge blow...I'm sitting here in tears hearing about your fellow farmer from Walgett. May all the prayers and helping hands in the world head their way.xx
ReplyDeleteOh Jodie. That's terrible news about the family in Walgett. It happens more than people realise. It's just so sad that he thought that was his only way out. What a terrible thing for his family to now have to deal with. We have been lucky. Some good wheat and some not so good wheat. Wet chick peas.... too. But in the end... we're all well... and there's nothing anyone can do to change what's happening with the weather. Hope you can at least get some feed wheat off... something is better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteOh Jodie, I read your post a couple of days ago but was so upset that I couldn't even write a comment.
ReplyDeleteI hope your crop surprises you and you find more there than you originally thought and my thoughts go to that other poor, poor family.
This really is a devastating time.
I've heard farmers saying over and over how they'd take a drought over this any day.
Lots of love and warm sunshine to you and your family. XX
Hi Jodie. Like Kate, I read this a few days ago, and it’s been on my mind since. I'm sorry about your crop. It just doesn’t seem right. Farmers grow our food for us, but we expect them to gamble their livelihood for the pleasure. Other businesses can be insured against loss from floods or fire or other environmental uncertainties. Why can’t farmers?!
ReplyDeleteWe get our vegetables from a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. So the farmers know that they have a reliable income, no matter what their loss. It seems to me we should be paying for our wheat and other staple crops up front. If we end up paying for wheat we never see because it was spoilt by flood or drought so be it. Why should the farmer and his family have to wear the loss? I know this probably wouldn’t be practical. But it would be good if we could be fairer to our farmers.
Thank you for sharing your story. Take care. I truly hope you can salvage some sort of income from your crop.
I'm sorry - and how awful about that farmer. His poor family...
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about you and other farmer people I know over the last couple of weeks. It must be incredibly devastating to have gone through drought to then be confronted by this. I'll continue to pray for you all, but please let us know if we can do anything else.
ReplyDeleteHugs Jodie and to the family that has lost a father and husband.
ReplyDeleteLiving on the land is such a gamble - my FIL always says that he doesnt bet - but he does gamble. Peopl dont get it - but living off of the land every day is a gamble.
They have lost alot this year too - and we are going to fly them up in the newyear as DH really wants to see them and we know that they can not afford it at the moment.
So sorry about this Jodie, we are in a similar boat, there is one funny thing for us...we were washed out at sowing ...inches and inches, some things far too wet, some paddocks never got in. wasn't any good to get on until oct. Oct we looked at each other and said, why not, we'll sow them now....you know what crops are looking the best on the place-the ones that have had an inch or 4 every week sinc Oct!!! Fingers crossed. they get to the silo..
ReplyDeleteAnd I've heard about a lot more men than that, breaks your heart, dont they realise we love them for richer and poorer? Tracey
Jodie, I've been thinking of you and your family for a month or so now... but haven't had time to see how you all have been doing. So glad to hear that you will at least get something for your crops.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad time for people. Sad to hear of the other farmer who took his life. My aunt took her life in November due to a second bout of cancer. She was 80 and had decided that she didn't want to be in pain all the time.
Hang in there. Here is hoping/praying that you will have a better happier and also safe New Year.