There is a huge range in people's perception of drought. Some people may have a 'feeling' that they are in drought after just a few weeks of no rain, whereas others may consider that there is a drought only if the paddocks are totally denuded of grass – it all depends on the individual's experiences and the climatic region they live in.

In coastal regions where there is almost a weekly expectation of rainfall, short periods of no rain can indicate drought. However, in arid environments where it seldom rains, a lack of rain over an extended period, such as for many months or a year, may be regarded as drought.

For these reasons, a single definition of what constitutes a drought is not appropriate; however, a close approximation to a definition may be as simple as: 'A drought exists when rainfall is insufficient for normal farming practices to be conducted'. The emphasis then shifts towards defining the extent or severity of the drought.

To obtain the definition of 'drought' for drought assistance purposes, contact your local Rural Lands Protection Board.