Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald says that some good rain has fallen in parts of central and northern NSW in recent days, farmers in the south continue to pray for the same good fortune.

Even so, the northen and central falls have done little to impact the latest drought figures, which have seen the area of NSW in drought increase from 66.2pc to 71.6pc.

The area considered marginal is 17.6pc (down from 18.5pc) and the area of NSW experiencing satisfactory conditions has dropped from 15.3pc to just 10.8pc.

"The reality is that many of our southern NSW croppers face the dire prospect of total crop failure unless decent rain comes in the next week," Mr Macdonald said.

"Already some producers have experienced significant crop losses in parts of the Riverina and south west of the State - which is just devastating considering their expectations were running so high just a short time ago.

"And that means no income for farming families, some who have already experienced low or nil returns on previous winter cropping seasons - and of course, this will flow on to consumers at the supermarket check out."

Mr Macdonald said the news was better in north western NSW, where the region around Tamworth received good falls in August, and crop predictions remained high.

"Parts of central western NSW also received rainfall last month, however, recent hot windy conditions are taking their toll, and crops there are now on a knife edge," he said.

"Pretty much the whole State other than the north and parts of the south coast regions is crying out for Spring rain - and lots of it."

Mr Macdonald said while pasture conditions were expected to improve with the warmer temperatures, some supplementary feeding of livestock was taking place.

He said locusts continued to also pose a threat to crops and pastures, with the early warm weather expected to bring on hatchings in some parts of the far west in the next week.

"It is vital that farmers notify their local RLPB as soon as they see any locust activity so we put the prepared response plans into place and minimise locust damage," he said.

"The State Government through DPI is working closely with the RLPBs, NSW Farmers’ Association and the Australian Plague Locust Commission to be as prepared as possible."

Meanwhile a massive dust storm has turned the Jerilderie ram sale red.

The storm turned the town of Jerilderie in the NSW Riverina district red yesterday afternoon, not once but three times turning in on the Woodpark Merino and Poll Merino Ram sale, which battled on in darkness at times.

The storm was one of a number that swept through the Riverina as part of a front that stretched from the Northern Territory through western and southern NSW.

But the hardy graziers of the region endured the conditions to bid the market to a high of $2800, even though at times the darkness meant the old tricks of bidding with a nod and a wink went out the door and buyers had to wave their arms to be seen.

The sale averaged $1203, with 109 sold out of the 120 offered.

Source: The Land