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Drought broken in 11 Queensland LGAs after intense rain, but many producers still struggling

Rick Greenup says his southern properties are having an "awesome" season. (Supplied: Kent Ward)

Intense rainfall in parts of Queensland's south-east has broken the drought for some shires, but others remain dry.

Eleven local government areas have had their drought status revoked, signalling an improvement in conditions after significant – and in some cases destructive – rainfall.

But 61 per cent of the state is still drought-declared.

Santa Gertrudis breeder Rick Greenup has cattle properties in the drought-declared North Burnett at Eidsvold and the now drought-free South Burnett, near Kingaroy.

"Kumbia at Kingaroy has had an awesome run — we've had a great run down there and right through to this point," he said.

"We've got a lot of feed about us we look and looking pretty good … it's starting to dry off at Eidsvold, but we're sitting sitting pretty good."

Mr Greenup said he used government assistance to build new infrastructure to shore up the water supply to the properties during the drought.

"We've still got some more work to do in the North Burnett, but we just finished off a $100,000 project at a property called Belvedere," he said.

"We put a pipeline from the from the river right up to the house and down to the yards — 6.5 kilometres' worth of pipe.

The federal government has extended its On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme until 30 June 2023.

"If you're not accessing that, well, you're not really trying, because it's easy," Mr Greenup said.

Farmers on the Fraser Coast have been through two record-breaking floods in two months.

Jeff Atkinson from Maryborough Canegrowers said in a region with dryland crops even torrential rain brought some benefits.

"Growers are going better than they certainly have for the last few years, because they've had below average rainfall and quite a severe drought there," he said.

"With the season we've had, all areas have had good rainfall … some probably had more than they wanted to be honest, but that's how it goes.

Georgie Somerset, an ABC board member, says graziers in the gulf are preparing for tough season. (Supplied: Georgie Somerset)

Nature of the beast

But while growers in the south-east celebrate, 23 councils and parts of three other council areas remained drought declared, representing 61.1 per cent of the land area of Queensland.

Twenty-three council areas remain drought declared. (Supplied: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)

AgForce general president Georgie Somerset said farmers in the north and west were hoping for a better season but preparing for a bad one.

"Some people have had way too much rain over summer and then we've got people in the north where they've already done first round (muster), they've got those weaners off," she said.

She said it was critical the industry continued to build resilience and stay prepared during the good times.

"The nature of Queensland is that we have episodic rainfall events," Ms Somerset said.

"Bringing forward the first round muster is just another example of how our producers are constantly flexing to manage what they've got available to them.

"I'm also really conscious that there are people who will have water shortages going into winter … there are support people available and I think that you need to try and tap into whatever support is there."

In March, Queensland's reformed drought assistance package opened for applications.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said $500,000 had been delivered to 19 farmers under the new arrangements so far.

"The first step is to have a farm and business management plan, which you are able to access assistance in," he said.

"Once you get that underway and that that plan has been accepted, you can start accessing the first stage of grants up to $50,000.

Mr Furner said some drought assessments had been delayed until later in the year due to the season.

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