‘Desolate’: farmers in NSW’s west battle drought as east coast mops up after floods

Climate extremes are reshaping Australia's agricultural landscape, with southern regions grappling with concurrent droughts and floods. Farmers face immense challenges by selling livestock and abandoning crops amidst prolonged dry spells. Meanwhile, parts of New South Wales and Victoria endure severe droughts, while others face record-breaking floods. As climate conditions shift toward drier environments, farmers are stretched thin from years of marginal farming and unpredictable rainfall, with limited support from governments despite calls for increased assistance to navigate this crisis effectively.