Despite receiving 1500ml of rain in the last 6 weeks, including 600ml from Sunday 9th to Tuesday 11th January we are managing quite well – much better than people in other parts of Queensland. Because our farm is hilly we don’t get any  flooding – all the water is running off & flooding other places! Just about the only milk being collected & taken for bottling in SEQ in the last few days has been from the 8 remaining farms on the Maleny plateau!

Our milker – Farmer Neil – has been flooded in since Sunday so Rob & I, our son Tim & one of our regular visitors, Jake, have had to do all the milking. Cows don’t like torrential rain so it’s been quite difficult. Luckily we haven’t lost power & all the work we’ve done in the last couple of years with the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group & SEQ Water to concrete around the dairy & harden laneways the cows don’t have to walk through too much mud.

We’ve had 2 sets of twin calves born in the last week – Rob had to help with the delivery of one set (large brahmin crosses) in an absolute deluge. Rosie the pig is very unhappy – her pen is too muddy even for her & the goats are like drowned rats & won’t come out of the shed even to eat!

Our thoughts are with everyone badly affected by this terrible weather

Anne

Thursday 13th January 2011 (the sun is shining now!!)