Half of the shire was drought declared in 2004 and now after another failed wet season which delivered less than 30mm of the 250mm average rainfall, the entire shire has been drought declared.

The severity of the drought is highlighted by the fact that on a 150km drive from Dajarra to Boulia, less than 10 head of cattle were sighted.

The five properties immediately surrounding the township of Boulia comprise 1.5 million hectares and would normally support 60,000 breeders.

Today there are less than 7000 head in the entire area.

The remainder have either been sold off except for 8000 head which have been put onto agistment properties.

Many of these are costing the grazier $4 per week but this is a must in order to retain a core of breeding stock to be able to start up again when and if the drought breaks.

Increased transport costs put the situation into perspective: 8000 head represents almost 1900 road train decks.

Mayor of the Boulia Shire, Rick Britton, said he had completely de-stocked his property, Goodwood, which would normally carry 4000 breeders.

He hopes that the calves of the 1500 head he has on agistment will pay for the agistment cost.

“Even so, it will take at least four years to get back on our feet once we get rain,” he said.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out now.