Livestock prices and drought are changing farmers' plans in New South Wales

In some areas of southern New South Wales, record livestock product prices, high feed reserves, and promising harvest prospects are being observed. Against the backdrop of a decline in the national sheep flock to 67.1 million head (compared to 85.7 million two decades ago), high meat and wool prices are encouraging farmers to give preference to livestock production. According to livestock farmer Paul Quaid, some farmers are retaining sheep and reducing crop production volumes.

For the Golder family, timely March rainfall following a dry February made it possible to build up feed reserves and improve grain indicators. As Graham Golder noted, previously high grain yields rarely coincided with favorable years for livestock farming. At the same time, total winter crop production in the state for the 2026–27 growing season is projected to drop by 30 percent to 13.1 million tonnes (ABARES data), with growth in the south and center only partially offsetting the decline in the north.

About 45 percent of the state's territory is affected by varying degrees of drought. Drought coordinator Ray Willis reported that in the traditionally agricultural Moree district, only about 10 percent of the area has been sown due to a dry April and May. According to departmental estimates, about 35 percent of the region's territory may remain in a drought condition by the end of November.

The situation is also more difficult on the South Coast, where livestock producer Brett Rogers from Bega stated that hopes for a spring improvement are diminishing. Local producers are considering reducing livestock numbers, and volunteers are organizing the delivery of hay and feed to help affected farms. Ray Willis urged farmers to plan their work based on actual conditions rather than forecasts.