More than 99 per cent of the state is in drought according to the Department of Primary Industries, and this includes most of the Shoalhaven region. 

Farmers right across the region, whether they herd cattle, dairy cows or sheep, have voiced their concerns over the enormous price of feed and their struggles to keep up with the rising bills. 

Unicorn Cheese at South Nowra has offered it’s whey to farmers for free, in order to alleviate some of the financial burden. 

Production manager Graeme Banister said another farmer had been using the whey for some time, and said it had been a great help. 

“We have a couple of local farmers, one who mixes it with grain as a supplement to feed the cows and some use it as a liquid supplement,” he said. 

“We’ve been hearing stories of farmers struggling and thought this could be of some help, whether they feed it to their cows, pigs or sheep.” 

Mr Banister said the whey could be distributed via the company’s trucks, or loaded by farmers if they have their own trucks. 

“Whatever the situation may be we are happy to work something out,” he said. 

Unicorn Cheese produces 20,000 to 40,000 litres of whey each production day, and usually has five production days per week. Mr Banister said there was enough to share between farmers who may be interested. 

“We always want to help out the community where we can,” he said. 

“If farmers just want to trial the whey and see how it goes, that’s fine too, we may even be able to send it further out of the region if that’s where the need is.” 

For nutritional information about the whey, or to get in touch with Unicorn Cheese, call 4423 1266.