Dry conditions are starting to bite, across all Tasmania's agricultural sectors

Mr Johnson said between 1000-1500 cattle a week were being bought by stock agents in centres like Albury and Bathurst.

“It’s very, very dry – we are going through the worst spring since 1960, surface water is becoming a problem and general grass and fodder grain are low,” Mr Johnson said.

All types and breeds of stock were being offloaded, from all over the state.

“Everyone is offloading – cows and calves, yearlings, and the mainlanders are certainly there, but we are handling cattle for Tasmanian suppliers too,” Mr Johnson said. “It will run until we get rain.”

This week’s Quoiba sale saw mainlanders take 75 per cent of the 550-head yarding.

Tasmania's drier than average weather was likely to continue for another month, the weather bureau has said.

Much of Tasmania had experienced a much drier October than usual, with Launceston recording the lowest rainfall for more than a century, with less than half a millimetre.

Dry conditions are likely to have a big impact on apple and cherry orchards, in the north-west of the state, according to Fruit Growers Tasmania business development manager, Phil Pyke.

“We remain very concerned about rainfall deficiencies across the state,” Mr Pyke said.

Orchardists in the Spreyton area were relying on water from catchments and bores.

“It’s a very real concern for them, as they head towards harvest in mid to late December,” he said.

In other parts of the state, particularly in the Midlands, irrigation schemes had been of great benefit.

“There’s a new orchard being planted in the southern midlands, on the irrigation scheme, but it will only help if you have something to connect to, if you don’t have an irrigation system to connect to, you won’t be able to do it,” he said. “The long term prognosis is not favourable, as we head towards the apple season - apples require large volumes of water, to produce fruit of the size and quantity required.”

Southern Regional Panel chair Keith Pengilley, Glen Esk, Conara, said it had been uncharacteristically dry.

“It’s going to be a difficult year, quite a lot of crops are being cut for hay, especially dryland crops,” Mr Pengilley said. “We have just run out of moisture and there is nothing forseeable coming.”

He said Tasmanian croppers were fortunate in that demand for hay would be strong, from the dairy sector.

Many croppers were now on a knife edge, as to whether or not they cut cereals or allowed them to mature.

Mr Pengilley said many producers had been caught by low river flows.

“They haven’t been able to fill their storage dams, because of restrictions,” he said.

At Conara, the South Esk river system was always one of the most reliable in the state, but restrictions had been imposed in September.

“I haven’t been able to take water since mid-September, all the irrigation we are doing is coming out of our storage dams,” he said. 

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) president Wayne Johnston said dry conditions had dampened confidence, with many members doing it tough. Farmers in the Midlands and on the East Coast were likely to be hit hardest by dry conditions brought on by El Nino. 

“Interest rates may still be low, the dollar may still be low, but growing conditions are very challenging; the availability of feed for livestock is also challenging. To all intents and purposes, we had no rain in the winter,” Mr Johnston said.

“Soils and sub-soils are parched; certainly there are parts of the state that are looking green and lush but the growth is not there.”

Poppy plantings were down, dairy farmers were looking for hay and silage and vegetable growers were handing in contracts for the two big processors.

He said the only bright spot was irrigation. “Those fortunate enough to be able to irrigate should remain optimistic, but for those without secure water supplies, or unable to afford irrigation, this is going to be a tough period,” he said.

Farmers welcomed new government policies allowing them to gain access to vital water supplies, for longer, before environmental flow regimes kicked in.

Mr Johnston said the group had asked for the new policy.

The new ministerial policy on water resource management would delay ‘‘cease-to-take’’ orders – previously issued when water levels reached a certain point – for some rivers, streams and catchments.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said dry conditions had not reached crisis point but the government was working with the TFGA to help rural communities during dry conditions.

‘‘This is a more sensible, commonsense policy that allows farmers to continue accessing water rather than it go past their pumps and out to sea and effectively wasted,’’ he said.

The policy would start immediately and operate for six months before being reviewed, and water officers would be in communication with farmers to manage use.

The government had also pledged almost $2.3 million to help Tasmanian farmers.

It included $2.2 million to extend the subsidy for new irrigation electricity connections and $44,000 for a feed and fodder register.