The Drought Resilience Podcast

Orroroo: John Nicholas

Annabelle Homer Season 1 Episode 4

You’ve got your financial bank, you’ve got your moisture bank, and then you’ve got your grass bank. If you don’t have your moisture and grass bank, there won’t be any bank…or the bank will be chasing us.” John Nicholas

In this episode you’ll meet 34-year-old John Nicholas from Orroroo, who owns a 7000 hectare mixed farming operation in the upper north of South Australia.

Like many farmers in the area, he’s battled five years of below average conditions from 2017 to 2021.

John’s been farming for 10 years and has big plans, but the drought has made it difficult to move forward. 

However, he’s still optimistic and during the next 20 minutes you’ll hear about his adventures with breeding Dorpers, moving back to Merino sheep and his plans to crack into the EU market.

This program is supported by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and National Landcare Program.

Links:

Northern and Yorke Landscape Board - https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/ny

Landcare: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/

Future Drought Fund - https://www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/future-drought-fund

Talking Livestock - https://www.facebook.com/talkinglivestock/