Queensland Farmers Struggle as Drought Dries Up Feed Supplies

Graziers across Queensland are being pushed to the brink as prolonged drought conditions leave hay sheds empty for the first time in decades for some. Greg Finlay, a 58-year-old farmer near the Queensland border town of Texas, described his empty hay sheds as unprecedented in his 28-year career.

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There've been people destocking for a while now as the drought's worn on.

The drought has gripped much of southern Queensland, an expansive region roughly twice the size of Belgium, which has now been drought-declared for the first time in two years. Many residents still recall the severe drought from 2013 to 2024, with lingering psychological impacts.

Farmers in affected areas, including Balonne, Goondiwindi, Southern Downs, and parts of Maranoa, are increasingly destocking or sending their animals to areas with more favorable conditions. Bureau of Meteorology forecasts predict below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures for the coming months, exacerbating the crisis.

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I think there's probably a lot of PTSD and people are worried about this. They don't trust that these are short-lived events. We are noticing extremes in what happens with our climates, extreme wet, extreme dry.

Finlay's property has received only 167 millimeters of rain this year, a fraction of the 650mm annual average. This has drastically reduced his hay production, forcing him and others to import feed from other states. The extreme weather patterns, swinging between intense wet and dry periods, are a growing concern for the region's agricultural sector.

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It's not just the stock, it's the farmers. They haven't got the rain to plant, or if they did plant, some of the crops just come to nothing.