After seven years of drought, the cattle farmers in the Australian state of Queensland welcomed the rainstorms heading their way as a blessing. But now, after one of the most terrible floods in state history, a billion-dollar industry could be left in tatters.
Authorities estimate that nearly 500,000 cattle—worth about $213 million—have been killed by flooding in Queensland’s north since the rain began falling late last month. The downpours have ended but the dead cattle bodies remain, baking in the record-breaking summer heat. If not buried or burned, they will become a health danger. Video taken from overhead at one location shows scores of dead cattle huddled together amid the devastation.
Cattle farmers and industry experts say the worst could be yet to come. Australia’s beef industry is one of the country’s biggest economic drivers, with exports in 2017 worth $5.3 billion. The CEO of rural production Agforce Queensland, Michael Guerin, described the flooding as a “crisis”. “Although we won’t know the full extent of the livestock losses and infrastructure damage until the water fully leaves, it is certain that the industry will take decades to recover.”
Many of the cattle that survived can’t be reached since roads aren’t passable yet. Authorities have turned to air drops to provide feed, but the affected areas are so vast that they may not be able to reach all the animals in need. The Queensland government is providing emergency hardship assistance to those affected. Farmers are eligible for grants up to $53,000 but may need more to rebuild herds. Cattle farmer Jodi Keough told Seven News she expected to lose half her herd, adding that if authorities do nothing “we’re talking about a possible collapse of a primary industry in Australia.”
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