NSW Green Drought: Deceptive Rain Hides Ongoing Crisis

Recent rainfall across New South Wales has produced a deceptive green landscape, but the state's drought is far from over. Farmers now face a phenomenon known as a green drought, where short green shoots mask severely depleted soil and offer little nutritional value for livestock. With the Bureau of Meteorology declaring El Niño active, conditions are forecast to worsen by late August, threatening agricultural recovery and rural livelihoods.

What is a green drought and why does it matter?

A green drought occurs when rainfall produces visible grass growth, but the underlying soil remains too depleted to sustain nutritious pasture. The result is a landscape that looks recovered to the naked eye while offering minimal feed value. After roughly 100 millimetres of rain fell across parts of NSW in a single week last month, green shoots appeared in paddocks that were bare just weeks earlier. The visual change is misleading.

Animal nutritionist Dr Jill Kelly warned that the green pick is roughly 80 to 90 per cent moisture. Livestock must consume vast quantities simply to maintain condition, and at this time of year, when lambing, calving and lactating animals need significant energy, the shortfall is critical.