Graziers across southern Queensland are urging the state government to declare a drought as prolonged dry conditions force producers to rapidly reduce livestock numbers and conserve scarce feed. Bill Plant and his family, who run a property near Meandarra about 380 kilometres west of Brisbane, have sold around 640 cattle in the past three months. Their herd has fallen from about 1,000 head to fewer than 400 as they seek to protect their best-performing breeding stock. The region has recorded one of its driest starts to the year since 2019, with some southern Queensland locations receiving far below average rainfall. Producers say paddocks are reduced to bare dirt and conditions are deteriorating across a broad area, prompting increasing calls for formal drought assistance. Tony Perrett said there is a possibility the Queensland Government could issue a drought declaration next month, a move that would unlock additional support for struggling rural communities.