After producing hay and chaff for almost 40 years, Steve Neuendorf knows the importance of securing water for his enterprise.
So, when his accountant told him that the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) was administering drought support grants and loans to help prepare producers for future droughts, he applied immediately.
“I used the Drought Preparedness Grant for purchasing a boom irrigator and also putting down another bore so, if there were any droughts, I’d have plenty of water,” he said.
“The process was fairly quick. Once we got all the paperwork filled out, it was only a couple of weeks and we heard back from them.“
Investing in water infrastructure has mitigated the impacts of future droughts for Steve and helped him improve his hay and chaff business.
“The boom irrigator is very efficient because it is low pressure, so you don’t need as high electricity to make it run and it is also water efficient because it’s spread out and it doesn’t go up high and get blown away by the wind,” he said.
After buying the block across the road 12 months ago, the boom irrigator was the next investment in Steve’s plan to help secure water.
QRIDA’s Drought Preparedness Grant helped him achieve this sooner.
“I bought the property next to me 12 months ago and, when I purchased it, I said to my wife that it would be perfect for a boom irrigator and she said, ‘We can’t buy that yet, we’ve got to wait’.
“Then I heard about this grant and she said ‘I think you were meant to get that boom irrigator’!” Steve laughs.
Steve encourages other producers to act now and use the funding available through QRIDA to prepare their property for the future.
“Nothing will grow without water,“ he said.
“With the new bore and boom irrigator, it has made my business more efficient and productive.
“Apply for the grants, it’s a necessity. The dry times will come and go but they will always be back.”
