Planning for Drought
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Stock Wise Tips from ICON Agriculture

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Producers who have not yet sold their sheep should be prepared to audit their operations and need to take action now - plan, prepare and make decisions.

For those feeling the stress of the season here is a five-point plan as a guide through the audit process.

1. Audit your farm resources - farm, water, feed, sheep and finances.
2. Consider yourself - Get assistance, talk to others, include your whole family in talking about the problems, make time for recreation
3. Plan - Get assistance from a professional (be it a consultant and/or grant). Write down your plan and cost it out.
4. Act - Select sheep, secure feed, sell sheep, consider animal husbandry, feedlotting, confinement feeding and supplementary feeding
5. Review - Review your progress regularly, especially after weather events.

The situation facing producers this year is different than ever before because the cost of feed is at record highs and high currency values are keeping sale prices lower.

These two factors in combination have radically altered all equations regarding the retention and feeding of sheep under adverse seasonal conditions. It is very difficult to justify feeding sheep for survival over the coming summer. The decision to keep or sell must be made.