Farmers Across Borders headed for fire-scorched Mid West, Gascoyne on hay relief run

Mid West and Gascoyne farmers whose properties have been devastated by bushfires are in line for some welcome relief in the form of animal feed.

Partnering with Rio Tinto and Matic Transport, Esperance organisation Farmers Across Borders is preparing to deliver bales of hay to pastoralists who have spent much of the summer defending their livelihoods.

Volunteers last month delivered more than 1500 bales of hay and tonnes of other feed to fire-affected farmers in Corrigin in the Wheatbelt.

Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said as the logistics were finalised, the not-for-profit group would be heading to the Mid West and Gascoyne.

“We are just in the process of working out exactly what the farmers need, because we can deliver as much hay as they require,” she said.

“So far we are looking at going to Meedo Station and Jimba Jimba Station, but we are just waiting to hear back from a couple more.”

Farmers Across Borders has been as far as Cobar in New South Wales, where almost 50 truckloads of hay made its way across the border in 2019.

On Valentine’s Day last year, 15 road trains left Esperance for 31 stations across the northern Goldfields, Murchison and Gascoyne.

A week later, four more made their way north of Carnarvon, making it the biggest WA hay run yet.