MALLEE farmers are the least confident in the state about the year ahead, according to the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey.
While the survey found Victorians farmers were overall more positive about their propects due to strong commodity prices, two-thirds of the state farmers were actively preparing for potential drought conditions as the El Nino weather pattern started to officially emerge.
And with North Western Victoria remaining dry, confidence in the Wimmera and Mallee regions was trailing most of the other regions.
Mr Charteris said going forward, however, the season would be the key determinant of confidence.
“As it stands today, the season is favourable across much of the state and while the rain was late coming and a bit patchy, it has enabled farmers to get their planting program underway and put in their crops which appear to be generally in line with last year,” he said.
Mr Charteris said regardless of current seasonal conditions, the survey showed 68 percent of farmers had a proactive approach to drought-preparedness.
“Farmers are employing a range of measures including storing feed or growing fodder, managing livestock numbers, investing in water infrastructure or utilising Farm Management Deposits (FMD),” he said.
“This is a positive indicator, particularly in the light of current weather forecasts.”
The survey found beef producers were particularly buoyant about their prospects with prices at record levels, while grain grower sentiment remained firm in parts of the state on the back of autumn planting rains.
Confidence lifted amongst dairy farmers, but slipped in the sheep industry to around neutral levels.
