Less than 10 per cent of Queensland is in drought for the first time since 2013 but graziers warn they are not all out of trouble.
The state government has lifted drought declarations in nine local government areas after improvement in conditions.
Barcaldine, Boulia, Longreach, McKinlay, Richmond, Whitsunday, Livingstone, Winton and Isaac Shires have been declared drought-free.
Only the Diamantina and Bulloo local government areas remain drought-declared.
Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the decision was based on advice from local drought committees, scientific information and use of the combined drought indicator.
"Consecutive La Niñas and high rainfall have resulted in this fantastic outcome for our primary producers," Mr Furner said.
Out of drought but not trouble
Beth Streeter has a brahman and droughtmaster stud near Marlborough in central Queensland.
She said while they have enjoyed rain after a prolonged dry, their property has not fully bounced back.
The coastal parts of the Livingstone Shire have experienced a lot of rain recently, but her area remains much drier.
"Until the end of 2021 we'd had a few years of really severe drought," Ms Streeter said.
"We were lucky enough to get good rain right through until the start of this year which was unbelievable.
"Unfortunately, the taps turned off and it's very, very dry again."
Ms Streeter says it is a difficult time in the cattle industry with input costs rising and the price of cattle falling.
For her operation, accessing quality feed is an issue.
"We have a body of feed that's very, very dry that requires supplementation by molasses and dry lick — which comes at a big cost," she said.
"If we get frost now, the grasses can be really ordinary and won't have any value."
Ms Streeter accesses creek and bore water for the cattle but can't irrigate for hay production.
"When it gets really, really dry, and you do run out of grass then you have to roll out hay," she said.
"Any hay supplies you have dwindle pretty quickly and then you have to buy."
Drought preparedness
AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said the revoked declarations were made on the "general sense" of the area.
He noted there were parts in the state where that drought had been so debilitating, it would take more than a couple of years of rain to bring it back to where once was.
"Those things take time; it's one of the challenges of the Queensland landscape," he said.
Mr Guerin believes the agricultural industry has been doing a better job of working with natural cycles of dry and wet years to be better prepared for droughts.
"Planning the development of their assets to recognise there will be dry years and preparing for those drier years," he said.
"That doesn't mean it's not tough when you get there."
Support still available
Primary producers can access drought support even if the drought declaration in their local area has been lifted.
Mr Furner said farmers in recently drought-revoked areas could access freight subsidies for restocking and returning from agistment under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme (DRAS) for up to two years.
The state government offers grants up to $50,000 for drought preparedness through a co-contribution model for on-farm capital improvements that improve the drought preparedness of their property.
Drought Ready and Recovery concessional loans up to $250,000 were also available in any year, regardless of drought status, as well as farm management grants to help with the cost of professional assistance to develop a plan.
Mr Furner says more than 270 primary producers have already applied for drought preparedness assistance.
Producers still experiencing difficult conditions could apply for an individually droughted property declaration (IDP).
"If approved, an IDP will continue to give them the same access to DRAS as the recent area declaration," Mr Furner said.
