State Drought Coordinator, Graeme Eggleston, says the drought is entering a particularly tough phase because of its longevity and severity.

Farm management is the critical challenge facing the State’s drought stricken farmers, as the big dry enters its sixth year.

With the latest figures showing 97.9 per cent of NSW is either in drought (93.2pc) or marginal (4.7pc), the State Drought Co-ordinator, Graeme Eggleston, is urging farmers to keep making the tough decisions on stock and crop management – or risk dire consequences.

“We are hearing reports that some are making decisions assuming it will rain – but unfortunately this approach has some pretty tough results when the rain doesn’t come and the farmer is left with animals he can’t afford to feed or a failed crop,” he said.

“The worst thing they can do is stop planning and just hope for rain.

“This drought is entering a particularly tough phase because it has gone past even the most experienced farmer’s knowledge in terms of longevity and severity, and that’s why it’s critical those affected seek as much advice as they need to best cope.

“That includes on a personal basis, mental and family health basis, as well as a farm management basis.”

A raft of extra assistance and extension of existing support measures have been introduced by the State Government in recent weeks, including an extra drought support worker, Pip Brown, based at the Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Dubbo office.

Pip’s appointment takes the total to 10 drought support workers across the State, who have collectively organised a record number of drought-related information and support activities in the second half of the year.

“There has been an amazing attendance at these events recently, with 315 events attracting 17,500 farmers and rural community members in six months,” Mr Eggleston said.

“That’s as many as attended a year’s worth of events in the first year of the drought.

“This type of support for drought-related activities tells us the need still exists for anything that helps farmers better understand the available assistance, or assists their general ability to keep on coping.”

An updated Managing Drought Guide has been released by the DPI with a new section on planning. It features a simple form to help producers audit their farm resources and work out how long these resources are likely to last.

The drought hotline’s operating hours have been extended to help meet demand, which Mr Eggleston says is continuing to remain at around 80 to 90 calls per week.

Operating hours are from 8.30 to 4.30pm weekdays, and 7pm to 9pm, seven days a week.

Inquiries and claims regarding transport subsidies are also increasing, with 394 calls or claims received in one day recently, he said.

Meanwhile, on the cropping front, the news is not good, with record lows predicted for both rice and cotton harvests.

The State’s rice crop, estimated at 14,000 to 15,000 hectares, will be the smallest for almost 50 years, while the cotton crop of 111,500ha is the smallest in 20 years.

DPI’s Tamworth-based cropping specialist, John Kneipp, said while some better rainfall had been received in parts of the north west in recent months, its nature had resulted in extremely variable crops.