Drought may force Judy’s farm closure

By Dion Teasdale
JUDY Anderson’s Steels Creek biodynamic vegetable farm is thirsty.
The 17 hectare property’s two dams are almost bone dry and unless water comes soon, and a lot of it, Ms Anderson will go bankrupt.
“We are absolutely desperate. We’ve had no rain to speak of and our dams are so low we can’t pump water from them,” she said.
“If something doesn’t happen soon, if we can’t find water, the vegies won’t make it and the whole farm will be lost.”
Ms Anderson, who has lived on her family’s Steels Creek Road property, north west of Yarra Glen, for the past 25 years, runs Judy’s Farm – one of the only fully accredited biodynamic farms in the region.
In a good year the farm, which employs a handful of workers, produces up to 30 different kinds of biodynamic vegetables and herbs, which are distributed and sold across Australia.
“Our vegies and herbs are fantastic. People from far and wide adore them, but without water we won’t be able to keep producing them,” she said.
Ms Anderson said the farm uses drip irrigation and requires a third less water to produce its crops than non-biodynamic farms.
“We don’t need that much water, but we do need water,” she said.
“It is very ironic because the farm is actually on a flood plain, but instead of too much water, we’ve got none.”
The drought affecting other parts of Victoria, and stifling communities in New South Wales and parts of Queensland is definitely making its presence known in the Yarra Valley, Ms Anderson said.
However, assistance being offered to other drought affected farmers is not available here.
“I’ve been told that the Federal Government’s drought assistance package is only for farmers in the Murray Darling basin and that we don’t qualify,” she said.
“I’ve also gone to the State Government and been told there isn’t much they can do for me at this stage either.”
Ms Anderson is pleading for anyone with ideas or information about how she can save her farm to come forward. Phone 9730 1027 for more information.