A local feed stockist has blamed poor forecasting as one of the main factors for producers being under-prepared for drought.
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While few could have prepared for the extent of this drought, Furneys Stock Feed manager Lucinda Hellyer said that “we kept being told it was going to be a wet year, so everyone was unprepared.”
“They said it would rain in November, it didn’t, and then December, and January, and February and then March, but it just didn’t come,” she said.
“Farmers were even selling grain overseas, but now they are having to buy it back, and prices are increasing daily.”
While business has been booming, she said the drought has been taking a mental toll on her staff, even more so now as demand for feed is outweighing supply.
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“The drought hit us (Furney’s) overnight in February. I think everyone was holding on for the January rain we were told was coming, but when it didn’t arrive everyone started getting desperate, and we were flat out and have been ever since,” she said.
“It is great for business but it has also been taking a mental toll on the staff who are seeing so many desperate customers who don’t know if their credit card is going to accept payment, or if they can afford the feed.
“It really is heartbreaking, but we can’t just give it away either.”
With grain prices on the rise, and absolutely no hay left in the state, the business is struggling to both source stock, and keep up with demand.
“We don’t normally sell huge amounts of sheep and cattle nuts like we are now, our regular customers were hobby farmers and people with horses,” Ms Hellyer said.
“We are now even selling a lot of urea blocks, which allows stock to eat the really storky grasses that nothing normally eats.”
Even during their busiest period in years, the 15 strong team of local staff at Furney’s still pride themselves on customer service, and have recently been nominated for a third year in a row in the Quality Business Awards.
“Because of the drought things have gone insane here, but we pride ourselves on always going out of our way to help people if we can,” Ms Hellyer said.
“Being judged and named a finalist last year and being nominated again is great. It is nice to know that the customers appreciate us, and also lets us know we are going the right way.”
The business has been nominated in two categories, Excellence in Customer Service in manufacturing, construction and rural, as well as Excellence in Retail.
The Quality Tamworth Business Awards will be held on Friday August 10 at the TRECC, with nominations opened until the end of the week.
