I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

There is good reason for optimism in 2006, as more consistent rainfall in recent months has meant good seasons across the majority of NSW.

In fact, figures for December show that conditions across NSW have remained relatively unchanged compared to this time last month.

Average rainfall fell across the eastern half of NSW during December, which helped keep overall conditions relatively stable.

Certainly, conditions today are a vast improvement on one year ago.

This time last year 61 per cent of NSW was in drought, with 20pc considered marginal and only 19pc in the satisfactory zone.

In comparison, today only 24pc of NSW is drought declared, 30pc is marginal and 46pc is considered satisfactory.

This is due to the fact that over the last 12 months, almost all of the State has had average rain, except parts of the northwest and inland areas in the north-east.

In fact, NSW has received average rainfall or better over about 70pc of the State in the last three months alone.

Let’s hope these rainfall trends continue to bring farmers well-earned relief.

Bush fires

The success of our farming industries is due in no small part to the tough and resilient nature of our farmers and their willingness to work together in overcoming adversity.

Sadly this resilience was again put to the test, following a string of bush fires over the New Year’s period.

In Junee alone, a large bushfire claimed thousands of hectares of valuable pastures and crop stubble - leaving farmers with little or no feed for livestock. It also killed more than 20 000 sheep and other livestock.

Once the smoke cleared, people banded together to help one another through the heartbreak of these fires.

The State Government and the NSW Farmers Association also answered the call for help, by announcing a fodder donation drive to help affected producers.

Regional and rural communities have responded with over 4000 tonnes of hay and 400 tonnes of grain donated so far.

In the coming weeks and months hay and fodder will be needed to sustain surviving livestock through to the autumn season, when pastures begin to grow again.

People wishing to donate fodder can contact the NSW Department of Primary Industries on (02) 6938 1892. The NSW Government will cover the cost of freight for all donated fodder.

This column appears in Agriculture Today.