RIVERINA farmers are hoping for a better season after drought conditions brought hardship last year.
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It comes after new data revealed an 18 per cent drop in the annual farm cash income for 2018-19.
It has been projected the average income for broadacre farmers will reduce to $173,000, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.
Last year, the national average income was $201,300.
Windermere farmer Tony Clough said many farmers will be hurt by last year's season, which was "one of the worst years" for a long time.
Mr Clough said the drought came quickly and caught farmers unaware.
"It got to the stage where they got beyond the point of return," he said.
"This year, there are farmers who cannot do it and had to get rid of livestock and settle down with cool breeding stock and doing what they can with the least amount."
Mr Clough said farmers are "banking on a half handy season" to bring some relief.
"In my situation, we went through substantial dollars in our fodder reserve and didn't have to buy anything ourselves, but we're coming to the end," he said.
"We need a good year to make sure everything is rocking and rolling. If farmers don't get a good season then it will bring farmers undone, but that's no fault to them."
Mr Clough said there could be changes to farming practices this season, but at this stage it was unknown.
"It will remain to be seen if farmers change their farming practices," he said.
"Most farmers with livestock will be looking to reduce costs, either in fertiliser or seeding rates or discarding canola.
"I think there will be farmers out there who are trying to cut corners to conserve input costs without it being at the detriment to their program."
Despite tough conditions, he reminded farmers to keep a positive outlook, but also prepare for possible challenges ahead.
"In the farming industry, we need to understand that farmers have to look after themselves. Put away for the tough times because there is nothing pleasant about a drought," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology rainfall chart has reported that there was about 417.1 millimetres of rainfall at Cootamundra last year.
Meanwhile, the bureau has recorded about 168.1 millimetres of rainfall since January.