Australia

In pictures: Australia's drought seen from the air

  • 2 August 2018

Parts of eastern Australia are suffering their worst drought in living memory as a lack of rainfall in winter hits farms badly.

Reuters photographer David Gray captured the view of the dried earth from the air, finding an often surprising collage of colours.

A lone tree stands near a water trough in a drought-affected paddock on Jimmie and May McKeown's property Image copyright Reuters

A lone tree is the only sign of life near a water trough on a farm outside Walgett in New South Wales. Farm owner May McKeown said she had not seen much rain since 2010.

Farmer May McKeown feeds her remaining cattle on her drought-affected property located on the outskirts of the town of Walgett Image copyright Reuters

About 98% of New South Wales is drought-stricken, and two-thirds of neighbouring Queensland. As a result, farmers are having to order in food for their livestock, which raises their costs considerably.

A cow walks away from a water tank in a drought-affected paddock on farmer Tom Wollaston's property Image copyright Reuters

A cow walks away from a water tank in Tamworth, New South Wales. "I cant seem to be able to do anything else apart from just feed, and keep things going," farmer Tom Wollaston said. "[The drought] seems to be one step ahead of me all the time."

Farmer Ash Whitney stands in the middle of a dried-up dam Image copyright Reuters

A dried-up dam near Gunnedah in New South Wales. The government's aid for drought-hit farmers has now topped A$1bn (£564m; $738m). "I have been here all my life, and this drought is feeling like it will be around a while," farmer Ash Whitney said.

Sheep eat grain dropped in a drought-affected paddock on a property located on the outskirts of Tamworth Image copyright Reuters

Sheep eat grain outside Tamworth. Government aid includes funding towards better mental health services for struggling farmers.

An old bus used for storing farming equipment stands in a drought-affected paddock on a property located west of the town of Gunnedah Image copyright Reuters

Parts of Australia saw the second warmest summer on record between December and February, and the country as a whole saw its driest July since 2002.

An irrigated paddock can be seen next to a ploughed paddock on a farm located on the outskirts of the town of Mudgee Image copyright Reuters

An irrigated paddock next to one that has not been watered. About a quarter of Australia's agricultural output comes from New South Wales, so the drought has hit the industry particularly hard.

A road can be seen next to tracks leading to a water tank located in a drought-effected paddock Image copyright Reuters

While touring the worst-hit areas in June, PM Malcolm Turnbull said there was a clear link to climate change. "I don't know many people in rural New South Wales that I talk to that don't think the climate is getting drier and rainfall is becoming more volatile."

All interviews by Reuters

More on this story