Government and industry respond to rangelands dry season
The State Government, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), is committed to supporting sustainable and profitable pastoral industries, and positive animal welfare outcomes.
Dry seasonal conditions across parts of the rangelands, including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, and Murchison regions, are significantly impacting the State’s pastoral sector, and DPIRD development and extension activities assist with timely decisions, in line with seasonal conditions.
To support rangelands producers, DPIRD has initiated a dry season response program, and is working closely with other Government departments and industry organisations, including the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (KPCA) and the Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association (PGA), to identify and implement appropriate management actions.
The response program will consider ways to improve the coordination of resources and programs during this difficult period, to best support producers.
Areas being examined include:
- Implementation of dry season herd management plans.
- A temporary special assistance permit to provide pastoralists with transport extensions.
- Agistment arrangements to ensure available feed and water are optimised for livestock.
- Additional State Government funding of $50 000 each for declared pest control to the Pilbara, Meekatharra, and Goldfields-Nullarbor Recognised Biosecurity Groups.
- Contact with properties identified as requiring additional support.
- Dry season information forums, and
- Assessing the provision of fit-for-purpose spatial imagery and decision support tools.
Be informed and up-to-date
The 2019 northern pastoral season webpage provides useful information to support producers to make more informed business decisions. It includes details on:
- Rangelands seasonal information, including climate outlooks, such as rainfall-to-date, and rainfall outlooks, as well as other sources of climate data, and contacts.
- Resources, such as livestock management information and tools.
- Pastoralists' responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 2002, information to help make welfare decisions for cattle and sheep, as well as the relevant Codes of Practice.
- Links to available support services and assistance, including the Rural Financial Counselling Service WA, Beyond Blue Support Service, and Regional Men’s Health Initiative.
- Relevant DPIRD staff contact details, to discuss livestock, cropping, or land management strategies throughout the season.
Stay tuned for more updates on how Government and industry are working to assist pastoralists and respond to the dry season in affected areas of the rangelands.
For more information, visit the 2019 northern pastoral season webpage.