Australian farmers in the Central Highlands will face tougher growing conditions next year if the Emerald region does not receive significant rainfall before the end of 2020. Fairbairn Dam has hit a historic low on December 1, reaching 8.13 per cent capacity, the lowest it has been since its construction in 1972. Fairbairn Dam is the second largest water scheme in Queensland after the Burdekin, feeding water into the Emerald Irrigation Scheme and the Nogoa Mackenzie Dam. As the demand for water has grown in Emerald, producers in the region say water prices have skyrocketed and areas of prime agricultural land have not been planted due to the decreasing water supply. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com