ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

The drought that’s currently gripping most of the country has forced another primary producer to begin hand-feeding his flock and this time, Canberra might listen.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told journalists this afternoon that he’s started feeding his alpacas and Shetland ponies this week as the promised March rains failed to materialise.

“Took the Proton [Jumbuck] into Guyra this afternoon and picked up half a dozen square bales of oaten hay and a few bags of copra. A sad day really. But that means I’ve joined the many thousands of farmers around the country that are currently getting themselves deeper and deeper into debt hand feeding stock,”

“It’s tough. Bella, Misty, Brett and Peanut are too poor to be trucked into the saleyards in town. They’re good Shetlands, their bloodline has been on this property now for 16 weeks. It’ll be a shame if I have to, you know, give them the old lead injection, if you know what I mean.”

The Advocate spoke to a few of Mr Joyce’s neighbours and they all expressed their hope that perhaps farming and regional communities might now get some air time from the Nationals – instead more infighting about coal power plants.

More to come.

