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Rain and floods are creating headaches for station owners, stock agents and truck drivers in South Australia and New South Wales.
Key points:
- A transport business owner says the wet weather is causing huge revenue losses
- A stock agent says it has been "almost impossible" to operate
- But he says the rain is likely to set graziers up for a "phenomenal season"
Yunta Transport co-owner Nikki Gaiter said it was tough trying to truck goats, sheep and cattle.
"It's very off and on because of the rain and the wet roads, dirt roads — we can't get anywhere when it's wet or when the road's are closed," she said.
"If we're supposed to do something this week it can get put back until the roads dry up.
"We do it next week, but then that impacts on next week's loads."
National impact
Ms Gaiter assists in transporting stock to and fro from SA, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
She said the business was able to operate, but the conditions were impacting everyone in the sector.
"I'd hate to guess how much money its impacted, but its hundreds of thousands [of dollars]," Ms Gaiter said.
"That's including us and the cockies that can't get their sheep out — they can't get them to market and stuff like that.
"There's three or four jobs a week – sometimes five – that we've cancelled.
"It depends how wet it is … those jobs can add up between $20,000 and $50,000, so no week's the same."
Trade halted
Stock agent Troy Hardman said it had been "almost impossible" to operate for several weeks.
"We've had people want to purchase stocks and would love to, but can't get them in, and other people that have purchased stock want to get them out," he said.
Mr Hardman said it was the first time in his 15 years as an agent that he had been forced to cancel deals.
He said the price of fuel was not helping either, but acknowledged that graziers were set up for a "phenomenal season".
"We've got plenty of green feed in front of us for a long time," Mr Hardman said.
"While road closures are difficult at the moment, the big picture is it'll all be over in a little while and we'll have fat stock to sell."