Consecutive natural events over an extended period have tested the resilience of NSW South Coast dairy farmers. The winter/spring 2023 rain deficit was followed by a deluge that stunted corn crops. Then followed a humid summer with Bovine ephemeral fever, which reduced milk production as much as 30% with cattle lost to the disease. In the past month, the region has been flooded—twice.

Farmers are urging the state’s agriculture minister Tara Moriarty to visit their farms however, no NSW government officials have made the trip from Sydney as yet. While some federal and state support is available to farmers, producers fear it is not enough with many little problems accumulating into one huge concern for farmers.