The Grenfell Record is teaming up with the Cowra Guardian, Western Magazine, Parkes Champion Post, Wellington Times, Mudgee Guardian, Lithgow Mercury, Young Witness and Dubbo Daily Liberal and others to join forces with the charity Rural Aid and its Buy A Bale campaign to help Western NSW farmers as they fight to survive the challenging conditions.

The Buy A Bale Western NSW campaign will raise money to buy hay, water and groceries for farmers in need through an online portal at https://www.buyabale.com.au/

Options to help include registering for a donation barrel, gradually filling a load of hay for a farmer with a hay truck poster, and, sponsoring a hay truck. 

Money raised will go to western NSW farmers. Funds raised for groceries will be used to buy gift cards at the farmer’s local supermarket. That way, the money will go back into the local economy.

More than 95 per cent of the Central West is in drought, or at the onset of drought, according to the state government’s Combined Drought Indicator.

The system looks at rainfall, soil moisture and pasture growth. The remaining 4.5 per cent is considered borderline.