Tasmanian farmers are counting the cost of “carnage” caused by severe weather across the state in recent days, with dairy farmers particularly hard-hit by power outages that could lead to animal welfare issues.
TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said the damage varied depending on the region.
“The Midlands [was] really wet, there’s been some lamb losses through there, there’s huge winds, there’s certainly damage with fences and trees and sheds,” he told The Country Hour.
“The Derwent Valley [saw] 120 mils [of rain] in two days in places, there are pivots blown over, lamb losses, there’s flooding, poppy crops are going to have to be re-sown which is just terrible.”
Sauer said the North-East & North-West are still experiencing a lack of power and the aftermath huge wind damage, affecting milking and water pumping capabilities.
Flooded shed and pumps are are also going to create a huge cleanup cost.
“The other thing that happens is after a couple of days of the power being off, the cows realise the electric fences aren’t working, so then they’ve got access to the whole farm which creates even more difficulties.”
TasNetworks have been overwhelmed with calls from farmers needing generators or help navigating power outages.
Sauer says his own farm in the northeast had experienced minimal wind damage and no lamb losses, but the sheep are “really sick of the wet”.
The Bureau of Meterology say winds and rain have now eased, with a warm front to arrive later today.
A cold front is then expected to move over the state on Friday afternoon.
