The final cotton harvest of far west New South Wales is taking place in the town of Menindee, as the water rights to the Tandou property were sold back to the government after several years of difficult conditions caused by a water shortage.
Property Manager Robert Lowe said the current conditions are significantly worse than the 1990s, when the property could support a full cropping program.
The government buyback will allow the water authorities to reconfigure the surrounding lake system to be more efficient.
Menindee Regional Tourist Association secretary Margot Muscat said the decline of irrigated agriculture is damaging local morale, as the Tandou property employed seasonal and full-time workers and provided grants in the community.