Australia's east coast drought to intensify as dry weather persists

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Australia's east coast drought to intensify as dry weather persists

By Colin Packham

 

Farmer Kevin Tongue stands in a dried-up dam on his drought-effected property of 'Glenwood' located on the outskirts of the town of Tamworth, north-west of Sydney in Australia, August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jill Gralow

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's east coast will experience dry weather for at least the next three months, the country's meteorological bureau said on Thursday, intensifying a drought that has wilted crops and left farmers struggling to stay in business.

 

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest outlook that there was only a 30 percent chance rainfall would exceed average levels over much of the country's east coast during spring, which runs from September to November.

 

If the drought gets worse, Australia's agricultural sector will suffer further crop losses, while farmers will also be forced to slaughter livestock in greater numbers as they struggle to find enough food or water to keep them alive.

 

The bureau also raised the prospect of dry weather in the country's west, which has so far escaped drought conditions, raising new concerns for Australian food manufacturers.

 

Unable to source enough grain from the east coast, some food producers have started to import supplies from Western Australia, where recent favorable weather had encouraged farmers to sell leftover supplies.

 

But the bureau said the west coast - the country's largest agricultural producing region - will also experience drier than average weather over the next three months, tightening national supply yet further.

 

"East coast farmers have largely written off wheat crops this year, but the issue could be the situation in the west," said Phin Ziebell, agribusiness economist, National Australia Bank.

 

"Some had been calling for a crop in excess of 10 million tonnes (in Western Australia), but if the forecast materializes, the figure will be under threat."

 

Production of wheat from the world's fourth-largest exporter is already expected to hit a decade low this year.

 

(Reporting by Colin Packham; editing by Joseph Radford and Richard Pullin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-30

[Chassa]

Should have built that pipeline from the Far North - mooted from time-to-time.

[Srikcir]

Maybe Thailand can send its Royal Rainmaking Aircraft to Australia to lend assistance?

It's had 100% success in Thailand.

[digger70]

3 hours ago, Chassa said:

Should have built that pipeline from the Far North - mooted from time-to-time.

Nah that would cost money,,, to much of an Smart idea,,, Yep To late now

[Stargeezr]

I guess some dams in the mountains and pipes to the coast would be helpful.

  Not sure what the distance is so guess one day I have to travel there and

see the Land Down Under.

Geezer