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The full extent of the year's once-in-a-generation drought has been revealed
Following bone-dry conditions, it is believed to be the worst harvest in a decade
This equates to 29.3 million tonnes of crop lost due to drought and severe frosts

By Holly Hales For Daily Mail Australia and Aap

Published: 22:59 EDT, 22 October 2018 | Updated: 01:00 EDT, 23 October 2018

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The full extent of the year's once-in-a-generation drought has been revealed, just as the worst affected areas have finally been blessed with some long-awaited rain.

However, while the downpour has brought relief to farmers in the most drought-ravaged parts of eastern Australia, rural analysts have predicted the worst winter harvest in ten years.

Rabobank's Winter Crop Production Outlook - Running On Empty - estimated Australia's total harvest was expected to drop 23 per cent from last year's yields.

This equates to 29.3 million tonnes of crop - worth more than $414 million - lost due to drought and severe overnight frosts.

The full extent of the year's once-in-a-generation drought has been revealed, just as the worst affected areas have finally been dosed with some long awaited for rain

Rabobank's Winter Crop Production Outlook - Running On Empty - estimated Australia's total harvest is expected to drop 23 per cent on last year's figure

According to Rabobank's agricultural analyst Wes Lefroy, prices will be pushed up in order to offset lower crop yields for some growers.

The shortage of crops is already threatening to send grocery prices through the roof after Coles' prices rose in the September quarter for the first time in almost ten years.

'For vast regions of the eastern states, there will be no harvest, and where there is a harvest, yields will be anywhere between 30 per cent and 50 per cent down on average,' the Winter Crop report says.

'Late, to no, season-opening rains, below-average to lowest-on average rainfall and above-average temperatures during the growing season have been coupled with damaging frost to reduce harvest volumes and affect grain quality.'

Due to the bone-dry conditions in the eastern states throughout winter, Western Australia will contribute more than half of the national winter crop for the first time in 20 years.

It is believed without the state's contribution, Australia would have faced its most grim winter conditions in more than two decades.

Due to the bone-dry conditions in the eastern states throughout winter, Western Australia will contribute more than half of the national winter crop for the first time in 20 years

In total, Australian grain exports are expected to drop by 50 per cent on last year, including a 50 per cent drop in wheat exports, a 48 per cent drop in barley exports, and a 41 per cent drop in canola exports

However, while supermarket power players have been reluctant pass the cost of the drought onto customers - particularly in the case of $1 milk - they have agreed to alter supply-driven price rises in categories such as chicken and dairy products.

Over the past six months, large areas of NSW have experienced their lowest rainfall on record, and the rest of the state isn’t far behind.

Almost all of the state has received less than 20 per cent of its usual rainfall since January, and Australia as a whole just experienced its warmest and driest July in 20 years.

It has also led to farmers' forced culling of thousands of starving livestock with no other choice but to shoot suffering animals and bury them in mass graves.

Almost all of NSW has received less than 20 per cent of its usual rainfall since January, and Australia as a whole just experienced its warmest and driest July in 20 years