Hay theft another blow for farmers

By Callan Date
MORE than $10,000 of hay set for drought-stricken farmers has been stolen from a Hallam property.
The grass, which covered about 50 acres of a Melbourne Water property on Centre Road, had been cut and was ready to be bailed before heartless thieves raided the property late last month.
The hay was to form part of an aid package for farmers who had applied for assistance through a drought support scheme.
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) spokesman James Meek said the operation to steal the hay would have been a complex one.
“Conservatively I would say they have stolen about 100 bales at about $100 each,” Mr Meek said.
He said the grass would have been raked, baled and stolen over two days.
“It looks like someone has seen the grass just sitting there after it had been cut. Whether or not they thought it was going to go to waste, I don’t know.
“It would have taken them a weekend. They probably would have needed a big semi-trailer and made two or three trips to cart it off,” Mr Meek said.
The theft is a major blow to farmers who are currently doing it tough in one of the worst droughts in decades.
Mr Meek said the VFF was grateful to Melbourne Water for donating the grass that grows on several of the vacant properties throughout Victoria.
“Fortunately Melbourne Water have other areas that will still be cut for hay, which they will donate to the VFF, and we will still be able to give away about 700 bales.
He said a ballot system determined which farmers would normally receive the hay through the assistance program.
“The theft has been reported to the police and I would ask anyone who saw hay being removed from the Melbourne Water grounds at Centre Road to please contact police,” Mr Meek said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.