Urgent bushfire support for Queensland’s vital livestock industry

9 November 2023

With drought and now bushfires destroying feedlots across regional Queensland, emergency livestock fodder is being urgently delivered to farmers in need.

The Queensland Government and not-for-profits Rural Aid and AgForce have joined forces to help the hardest hit primary producers in the worst-impacted regions.

This includes North and South Burnett, and throughout Southern Downs.

Recent bushfires have ravaged large parts of southern Queensland, with the disaster event also stretching further north to Central Highlands, Gladstone, Mareeba and the Tablelands.

So far more than 360 bales of livestock fodder have been transported across Queensland, providing much needed help to bushfire impacted farmers.

This is an outcome of the Bushfire Fodder Taskforce set up last week between Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), AgForce and Rural Aid to support primary producers with their disaster recovery.

To place context around the importance of this assistance, Queensland’s beef industry is worth over $10 billion and supports more than 40,000 jobs across the state directly and through supply chains, from farm to factory to export.

These businesses and the Queenslanders employed by them are fundamental to not only the economic success of the state but also its wider identity.

Farmers who have been affected by the bushfires are encouraged to complete a Disaster Impact Survey so their specific needs can be assessed and prioritised.

DAF is providing ongoing advice to landholders on recovery options tailored to their individual circumstances.

Primary producers can also access disaster assistance loans up to $250,000 and freight assistance up to $5,000.

Other support available to primary producers includes:

For information on producer loan applications and other assistance, visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946.

To find out how to access freight subsidies, please contact DAF on 13 25 23.