Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is now entirely in drought, officials have confirmed.
A dry winter has intensified what has been called the worst drought in living memory in parts of eastern Australia.
NSW produces about a quarter of Australia’s agricultural output. It was officially listed as “100% in drought” on Wednesday.
The state and federal governments have provided A$576m (£330m; $430m) in emergency relief funding.
“There isn’t a person in the state that isn’t hoping to see some rain for our farmers and regional communities,” said NSW Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair.
How is the drought being felt?
Farmers have told harrowing stories of failing crops, severe water shortages and being unable to feed livestock.
Some have spent up to A$10,000 per truckload of hay just to feed their animals, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“It’s like you are in jail every day,” Queensland farmer Ashley Gamble told the Nine Network. “You turn up here because you’ve got to turn up. It’s just depressing.”
Stock agent Simon Bourke told the ABC: “We’re selling livestock we don’t want to sell… down the track there’s really not going to be too many cattle or sheep left.”
Cattle farmer David Graham said he was resigned to waiting for rain, telling the BBC: “In our community you just support each other through the tough times.”
Suicide rates in rural regions are on average about 40% higher than in urban areas, mental health group Sane Australia has said.
What has caused the drought?
Southern Australia has just experienced its second-driest autumn on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with rainfall 57mm (2.24in) below average.
Less than 10mm of rain was then recorded in parts of NSW in July, and drier than normal conditions are forecast in coming months.
On Wednesday, officials said 23% of NSW was classified as being in “intense drought”, with the remainder in drought or drought-affected.
But the problem is not confined to NSW – more than half of neighbouring Queensland is in drought. Parts of Victoria and South Australia are also experiencing dry conditions.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull warned that the country had become a “land of drought”.
