In pictures: Australia's drought seen from the air Published duration 2 August 2018 Related Topics Climate change

Parts of eastern Australia are suffering their worst drought in living memory as a lack of rainfall in winter hits farms badly.

Reuters photographer David Gray captured the view of the dried earth from the air, finding an often surprising collage of colours.

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A lone tree is the only sign of life near a water trough on a farm outside Walgett in New South Wales. Farm owner May McKeown said she had not seen much rain since 2010.

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About 98% of New South Wales is drought-stricken, and two-thirds of neighbouring Queensland. As a result, farmers are having to order in food for their livestock, which raises their costs considerably.

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A cow walks away from a water tank in Tamworth, New South Wales. "I cant seem to be able to do anything else apart from just feed, and keep things going," farmer Tom Wollaston said. "[The drought] seems to be one step ahead of me all the time."

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A dried-up dam near Gunnedah in New South Wales. The government's aid for drought-hit farmers has now topped A$1bn (£564m; $738m). "I have been here all my life, and this drought is feeling like it will be around a while," farmer Ash Whitney said.

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Sheep eat grain outside Tamworth. Government aid includes funding towards better mental health services for struggling farmers.

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Parts of Australia saw the second warmest summer on record between December and February, and the country as a whole saw its driest July since 2002.

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An irrigated paddock next to one that has not been watered. About a quarter of Australia's agricultural output comes from New South Wales, so the drought has hit the industry particularly hard.

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While touring the worst-hit areas in June, PM Malcolm Turnbull said there was a clear link to climate change. "I don't know many people in rural New South Wales that I talk to that don't think the climate is getting drier and rainfall is becoming more volatile."