Canowindra's Meg Austin is one of five local women who will be representing the region at the upcoming UNICEF NSW Youth Summit on Living with Drought.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Austin is pursuing an agricultural career after growing up on a local lucerne property and said drought had become a routine part of her life.
"Over a recent meal at home with my family, we were questioning Dad on the farm's net income for a year of drought vs a year of average, reliable rainfall," she said.
"During drought, the price of lucerne hay increases due to the increasing demand for the product. However, lucerne is highly reliant on water and the drought takes its toll.
"The quantity of lucerne hay bales the farm can produce in a year plummets in a year of drought. Therefore, despite the increase in cost/bale of the lucerne product, a year of drought produces the same net income, if not less than, a year of average rainfall.
READ MORE: Cowra sees a return of the big screen
"As producers, despite our product being in high demand it's not a 'good year' for our farm, it's heartbreaking to be suffering with other producers and even more devastating when we cannot produce enough product for their increased needs.
"We regularly turn away new customers because we barely have enough product for existing customers. Our fellow agricultural producers turn to us, and we cannot meet their needs," she said.
Ms Austin said the drought summit would be a perfect opportunity to share her story and experiences with others, and learn from theirs.
"I am super excited to attend the upcoming UNICEF Drought Summit," she said.
"It's an amazing opportunity to meet with other young people from across the state to share with each other our stories and experiences.
"Ultimately I'd love to see all attendees build a greater understanding of the impact the drought is having not only on our own properties and in our own communities, but also the impact nationally."
Ms Austin said it's also a great opportunity to build public awareness of this climatic condition.
"What I find most exciting is the energy and enthusiasm that youth have; and their ability to think outside the box, suggest some new (or crazy ideas) and be willing to take a chance to make a difference," she said.
"It's a unique opportunity which gives rural youth the opportunity to hold the mic, have their voice heard and suggest changes," she said.
Ms Austin said she felt Australian farmers were needing to become more accustomed to the reality that there is no such thing as a "normal year" or "average rainfall".
"The weather is unpredictable and we need to accept that," she said.
"Therefore as rural communities, we need to build businesses that can handle the financial impacts of the drought to withstand the hard times and come out the other side.
"We need to build a business that can survive the complete opposite; flooding rains, and bounce back from that also.
READ MORE: Morongla Show set to celebrate 100 years
"This current drought has a firm grip on most of nation, but it's now we need to be thinking and planning ahead to ensure businesses are not this vulnerable to droughts in the years to come," she said.
As part of the summit a UNICEF public report will be produced on policy recommendations that will presented to the government.
However, Ms Austin has already put an invitation forward to her state and federal representatives.
"I would say 'come and visit!' Come and stay on a property, have dinner and witness us live our lives on the land," she said.
"It's not a 9 to 5 job, we don't ever leave work when it's at our back door. It's a lifestyle that we love but is also challenging.
"So when making drought-related decisions or implementing new policies, consider the land as a lifestyle and let that guide policy proposal.
"We need long-term, sustainable support and we need you to know that the food and fibre of the country are depending on it," she said.
The UNICEF NSW Youth Summit on Living with Drought will be held at Lake Macquarie from October 9 to 11.
Joining Ms Austin at the summit will be Bumbaldry's Olivia Twyford, Cowra's Kate Price and Lilly Wright and Darbys Falls' Emma Chalker.
More on the other attendees in a later edition.
What do you think of the drought summit? Have your say