After Months Of Horrendous Conditions, South Australia Officially Acknowledges Drought

South Australia is officially in drought, according to the State Government. bPrimary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone made the declaration as the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) reduced its crop forecast earlier this week.

PIRSA expects 5.8 million tonnes will be harvested in South Australia this year, more than 2 million tonnes less than the 10-year average. The announcement is the first time the Government has formally acknowledged a drought in South Australia.

For months farmers across the state have reported some of the driest conditions in recent memory, many destocking and prematurely cutting crops while others faced water and feed shortages.

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Wade Dabinett, the chairman of Grain Producers SA, said there were farmers who had "a number of ordinary years in a row" in the state. "We've got 10-15 per cent of the state that is the worst on record in terms of rainfall," he said. "Drought — whatever it is — it's a s***house year for a lot of people. "You've got some neighbours that are going to have a good year that have got good crops, good bulk and can cut it for hay and produce really well, where others have got absolutely nothing and it's a dust bowl."

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-09-28/south-australia-government-officially-acknowledges-drought/10317002