Entire state now affected by drought
SYDNEY: The entire state of New South Wales is now affected by drought, official figures show, as well as almost 60% of Queensland.
A drierthanexpected June and July has left many farmers with failing crops, a short supply of water and diminishing livestock feed.
According to the Department of Primary Industries, 61% of NSW is either in drought or intense drought, while nearly 39% is droughtaffected.
‘‘This is tough,’’ NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said in a statement yesterday.
‘‘There isn’t a person in the state that isn’t hoping to see some rain for our farmers and regional communities.’’
Less than 10mm of rain was recorded in the western, north west, and central areas of NSW in the past month and drierthannormal conditions are forecast for the next three months.
‘‘Producers are now faced with some very difficult decisions on whether to graze sown crops or rely on potential rainfall in the next two months in order to increase yield production,’’ Blair said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turn bull this week announced $12,000 grants for affected families.
The NSW government has pledged a total of $1 billion towards the growing crisis.
Meanwhile, latest Queensland government figures show 57.4% of the state’s land area is now in drought, The Brisbane Times reported this week.
That represented almost all of the state’s southwest as well as much of the central regions.
Demand for hay and grain in Australia was headed for ‘‘uncharted waters’’ as farmers struggled to find feed for their livestock, ABC News reported.
Sydneybased market analyst Nick Crundall said Australia was experiencing the ‘‘biggest domestic demand for feed grain that we’ve seen for at least 10 years,’’ and for the first time fodder from Western Australia had been shipped to NSW.
South Australia has so far escaped the worst of the drought despite a parched July but forecasters say an emerging El Nino system could prolong the big dry.
Adelaide has had about 85% of its average rainfall this year so far. — AAP