South Australia is officially in drought, according to the State Government.
Primary 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.
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.
Opposition primary industries spokesman Eddie Hughes said a lot of the measures introduced were "worthwhile initiatives", but said the move came late for some SA farmers.
"I can’t help but note, in the eastern states over 60 councils in drought-affected areas received, or are going to receive, financial support to help in their communities.
A ‘s***house’ season The acknowledgement of drought was welcomed by Livestock SA’s chief executive Andrew Curtis, who said the measures put in place by the Government were a "good start".
PIRSA’s crop forecast said that rainfall during grain growing season — measured from April to August — was either below average or "very much below average" in most South Australian agricultural areas.
It said more than half of the North East and North West Pastoral areas, which together cover more than 160,000 square kilometres, received below-average rainfall in the six months to August.
"We’ve got 10-15 per cent of the state that is the worst on record in terms of rainfall," he said.