A small respite from the constant battle of forking out money for hay says Aileen Hogan who was there as two truckloads were delivered to her property in Merriwa on Monday.

The bales were shared among ten farming families in the area thanks to a partnership between Ausgrid and Rural Aid’s Buy A Bale.

Aileen and her husband Peter have been hand feeding their cattle and sheep for twelve months.

“We have 90 odd head of core breeding cattle left,” she said.

The rest have been sold and Aileen says the calves they have on the farm have stunted growth because they just didn't get the start they needed.

The delivery of wheat and hay, which travelled 1198 kilometres from Willaura, Victoria in two semi-trailers will give that little bit of hope as another tough year approaches.

It’s the third delivery of its kind to farmers in the Hunter Valley struggling with the impacts of the extended drought conditions, but the first to this part of Merriwa which has received significantly below average rainfall for almost three years. 

“Ausgrid has already supplied hay to farmers in Muswellbrook and Singleton and we’re proud to be able to make this small gesture to help them,” Ausgrid CEO Richard Gross said.

“As a former farmer, with experience of drought, I know it’s tough to keep going – especially as you’re facing a long, hot summer.”

Eight months ago a semi-trailer load of hay rolled in to the property of James and Karen Carter at Stewarts Brook – fourth generation farmers who have run cattle on “Bullarer” for 28 years.

The hay came after mining company Glencore donated $200,000 to Rural Aid's Buy A Bale campaign in the Upper Hunter.

Ever since that day, James has driven loads of hay for Buy A Bale, a job that is keeping his stock alive.

“I’ve done 28 loads with Buy A Bale, totalling nearly 1000 bales to all around the Hunter Valley and even out to Dubbo, Narrabri and heaps of places,” he said.

“It has allowed us to keep our own cattle alive with the money we are earning from it, but the main thing is helping other people who you know need it. 

“And when you come to places like this, they desperately need it.”

James says while they have had some rain in the last few weeks, farmers at Merriwa have had no respite.

“We had three falls of rain totalling around 60mls, and it’s green, whereas out here is brown,” he said.

“It breaks your heart when you see things like this.

“This hay has come from Victoria and in all honesty there’s not much good stuff the whole way.

“There’s patches there that are as dry as this as well.”

James says as long as the drought continues, he’ll continue to run the hay.

“I’ll keep doing this until it rains,” he said.

“I’m just lucky I’ve got the trucks. 

“It’s allowed me to keep 100 cows, feeding them, keeping them alive with calves on the ground at the moment.

“If we didn’t have this they would have gone six months ago – so, it’s a pretty big thing.”

Ausgrid’s gesture follows a recent decision to support an employee campaign, matching their donations dollar-for-dollar, as part of Rural Aid’s Buy a Bale program.

Ausgrid has further deliveries planned to farmers in the Hunter over the summer period.

Members of the public can also support our farmers by donating at www.buyabale.com.au