#gunnedah

Australian farmers battle worst drought in a century

As livestock starve and the soil becomes dust, New South Wales farmers battle a crippling drought that many locals are calling the worst since 1902.

In Warrumbungle Shire, where sharp peaks fall away to once fertile farmland, the small town of Coonabarabran is running out of water.

The town dam is down to just 23% capacity, forcing residents to live with level 6 water restrictions.

Harry Taylor, 6, picks up a lamb to try and feed it with cottonseed in Coonabarabran, Australia.

The young boy’s family farm is almost devoid of grass, with dust and weeds as the only constant across the property.

Ambrose Dolan and his wife Lisa run a cattle feeding operation outside of Coonabarabran.

Both of the couple's children, Brett and Emily, have returned home this year to help support their parent’s farm during the drought

Farmer Ash Whitney stands in the middle of a dried-up dam on his farm west of Gunnedah, Australia.

"I have been here all my life, and this drought is feeling like it will be around a while," said Whitney.

The New South Wales State government recently approved an emergency drought relief package of $445 million, of which at least $185 million is allocated for low interest loans to help eligible farms recover.

The package has been welcomed, though in the words of a local farmer "it barely touches the sides."