Drought and Agricultural Damage in Australia (2007-2020s)

Drought and Agricultural Damage in Australia (2007-2020s)

Drought of 2007
In 2007, Australia experienced the worst drought in the past 100 years.
In major agricultural regions such as New South Wales and Victoria, wheat production dropped to about 10 million tons, down about 40% from the previous year.
The effect of this was to drive up wheat prices on international markets, putting the country's status as a food exporter in jeopardy.
In addition, the productivity of agricultural land in the Murray-Darling Basin declined due to a lack of water resources and progressive soil salinity.
Beef and dairy production was also affected, with agribusinesses GrainCorp and Elders suffering heavy losses.
The government supported the strengthening of irrigation infrastructure and the development of drought-resistant crops, and research led by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) was key to combating the drought.

Drought and Countermeasures in the 2010s
Australia also experienced intermittent droughts in the 2010s.
Severe droughts continued, especially in New South Wales and Queensland, from 2017 to 2019.
During this period, precipitation was less than half of normal and farmland was noticeably drier.
The 2019 wheat harvest reached a 10-year low of about 15 million tons.
Livestock farmers faced feed and water shortages, forcing many to sell their livestock.
The government announced the "Future Water Plan" and invested about A$10 billion to improve the efficiency of water resource management and distribution.
The plan also supported agricultural water price controls and the introduction of water recycling technologies.
Elders expanded research on drought tolerant crop seeds and introduced new technologies.

Current Status in the 2020s
Drought problems continued into the 2020s, with record rainfall reductions again reported in South Australia and Victoria in 2024.
In parts of South Australia, annual precipitation fell from the normal 350-400 mm to 108 mm, with severe impacts on crops.
Wheat production declined, costing farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Meanwhile, extreme weather conditions have taken a toll on the agricultural economy, with torrential rains recorded in Queensland.
Drier farmland has reduced the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use, and livestock production has also been greatly reduced due to a shortage of pasture grass.
GrainCorp and Elders are facing declining revenues and supply chain disruptions.
Governments and agricultural organizations are researching drought-resistant crops and improving water resource management, but more innovations are needed to address the increasing frequency and severity of climate change-induced droughts.

Conclusion
Australia's drought problem is a complex combination of geography and climate change effects that have had serious impacts on agriculture and the economy.
Although measures have been taken by governments and businesses since 2007, changing weather patterns due to climate change are exacerbating the situation.
New solutions are needed to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture and international cooperation in the future.