NSW: Drought figures increase in NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2008
NSW: Drought figures increase in NSW

SYDNEY, April 6 AAP - Drought figures in NSW have increased this month, leaving the
state's farmers on a roller-coaster, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says.

Warm weather and low rainfall, except in the central west and south east, has led to
an increase of about two per cent in the area of the state in drought.

"This is somewhat disappointing, given that the figures in the trend line were downwards
for the last three or four months," Mr Macdonald told reporters.

"The area in drought in NSW is now 42 per cent," he said.

"Farmers are definitely on a roller-coaster, which is providing some problems for them
in their planning."

Mr Macdonald said farmers needed good autumn rain to get their winter crops in quickly.

However, he said all the weather bureau research indicated that NSW would have a wet winter.

AAP wjf/jfm/mn

KEYWORD: DROUGHT NSW

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