It has been five months since the Mercury started the campaign to help Hunter farmers survive the drought.

And today we go one step further and launch a statewide petition – with the assistance of our sister mastheads from right across NSW.

The petition urges the state government to offer farmers relief on the cost of freight, fodder, water and Local Land Service rates as well as offer the collection of livestock genetics, and restocking/replanting loans after the drought breaks.

The key figure is 10,000 signatures which would ensure a parliamentary debate on the issue. Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison will take the petition to parliament.

The Buy A Bale Hunter campaign – a partnership between the Mercury, Newcastle Herald, Dungog Chronicle, Scone Advocate, Hunter Valley News and charity Rural Aid has given farmers more than $830,000 worth of help since February 14.

A Buy A Bale Hunter truck on its way to a farm

While that is a mammoth effort, the need for help continues to grow as water resources dry up across NSW and fodder supplies become critically low.

We are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Calls for help are flooding in from other areas of NSW too, and Buy A Bale has already delivered more than $200,000 worth of hay and the waiting list continues to grow.

Since February the conditions in our region – despite recent rain, and across the state have dramatically declined.

Right now 62 per cent of the state is in drought or at the onset of drought.

That’s more than double what it was two months ago.

Take a look at the drought in April 2018
DROUGHT: In April 2018 30.5 per cent of the state was in drought or at the onset of it and 63.6 per cent was flagged as borderline. Source: NSW Combined Drought Indicator.
DROUGHT: In April 2018 30.5 per cent of the state was in drought or at the onset of it and 63.6 per cent was flagged as borderline. Source: NSW Combined Drought Indicator.

Now, take a look at the drought in June 2018
DROUGHT MAP: The NSW Combined Indicator shows 99.3 per cent of the state is in drought, drought-onset, or is borderline.
DROUGHT MAP: The NSW Combined Indicator shows 99.3 per cent of the state is in drought, drought-onset, or is borderline.

Want a closer look? Zoom in on this interactive map

Click on the suns to reveal photos of what it’s like.

On top of that, 36.7 per cent is borderline and likely to dip into drought, given the current long-range forecast.

In the Hunter 76 per cent of farms are in drought, or at the onset of drought – 16 per cent more than two months ago, and 23.8 per cent is classified as borderline.

It’s abundantly clear our farmers need more help.

HELL ON EARTH: Farmers across NSW are struggling to survive the drought. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from across the state.
HELL ON EARTH: Farmers across NSW are struggling to survive the drought. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from across the state.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud and NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair are some of the politicians that have set foot on the farm to see the impact first hand.

Mr Turnbull went on a drought listening tour of Dubbo, Narromine, Trangie and Queensland towns Blackhall, Charleville and Boulia this week.

DROUGHT: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (centre) with farmer Phillip Miles (left), his wife Ashley and their son Jack (front) during a visit to Strathmore Farm in Trangie on Monday.
DROUGHT: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (centre) with farmer Phillip Miles (left), his wife Ashley and their son Jack (front) during a visit to Strathmore Farm in Trangie on Monday.

He also dropped into his own Upper Hunter property.

Since our drought coverage started in February, the only new offer of help has been the $20,000 drought transport loans from the state government. These loans offered a two-year no interest and no repayment period.

A lot of farmers told Fairfax Media the $20,000 wouldn’t last very long and they wanted a subsidy.

Even Mr Blair has said a lot of farmers talk about freight subsidies when he visits farms across the state.

DROUGHT: NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair in an empty dam at Stroud during a farm tour in February 2018.
DROUGHT: NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair in an empty dam at Stroud during a farm tour in February 2018.

He told Fairfax Media in May that he is not ruling out implementing further support measures.

“We’re not ruling out any further changes or further assistance, we’re certainly mindful of the views that different people have because every farming business is different,” Mr Blair said during an interview in May.

HELPING hands came from an unexpected place for a local farmer this week, with city-slickers ditching their suits and office chairs for a pair of gloves and wire cutters.

Nine workers from global software company IRESS made the journey from their CBD offices to John Bertram’s Mt Sylvia farm on Wednesday as part of Rural Aid’s Farm Rescue program.

The group helped erect 150m of fencing and remove debris from the farm’s main driveway.

One of the volunteers, Tracey Kinsella, said it was an eye-opening experience.

“In Brisbane you read the paper and hear about it on the news, but it’s not until you actually get out here and see it that you realise just how much it’s affecting people,” Ms Kinsella said.

The group attended the farm as part of Rural Aid’s Farm Rescue program that teams businesses and community groups that want to lend a hand up with farmers doing it tough.

Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said the program provided more than just help around the farm.

“It’s also the mental impact and the reinforcement that someone cares – they give a damn,” Mr Thomson said.

“Here we have a group of office works from Brisbane City, the heart of the CBD, and they want to show they care for these guys by giving up their day to be here, and have a bit of a sweat and get a few blisters, to help with the needs that the farmers have.”

John Bertram said it was heartening to know there were people out there that cared for the plight of farmers.

“This is really great to see that others can appreciate the difficulties we face in the rural communities,” Mr Bertram said.

“They’ve recognised that the region has been damaged and that they’d like to make a contribution towards doing bits and pieces to repairing some of that.”

Member for Lockyer Jim McDonald attended and spoke to the IRESS volunteers about the impact of giving up their time.

“It’s really touching and warms your heart to see people want to give back and want to come and help – it gives you a lot of faith in humanity,” Mr McDonald said.

Mr Thomson said anyone who wished to volunteer their time, or farmers wishing to host volunteers, should contact Rural Aid on 1300 327 624.