Partnered with a long, hot and dry summer, an unusual short cut off from last season has hit farmers hard for the 2024 growing season.

WA Farmers President John Hassell told Julie-anne Sprague on 6PR Afternoons the early cut off was most impactful, leaving reduced water in dams and a lack of fodder conservation.

And crops aren’t the only area of concern with the live export trade ban throwing farmers for a loop. Mr Hassell said that live trade is a farmers pressure relief valve and without it, it affects varying revenue streams and the diversity of market.

“Nobody’s particularly worried for cropping…where the issue is, is the number of livestock that are still on farm that haven’t been able to be turned off because of conditions with the live trade ban,” Hassell said.

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