Current dry spell not a “mega drought”, but signs indicate it’s on the way

The impact of past mega droughts on agriculture and the environment is being examined by researchers…

The CSIRO has examined 1,500 news articles relating to the impact of the Federation Drought between 1895 and 1903.

Wild life starved or died of thirst, while tens of millions of livestock were killed.

Mortality of rabbits due to lack of water and feed at Cockburn Railway, SA.

Extremely low water level in the Darling River, near Wilcannia, western NSW, c.1902 Credit: National Library of Australia.

To find out more about the study, and what it means for the current dry-spell, rural reporter Eddie Summerfield spoke with researcher, Dr Robert Godfree.