Dusty paddocks, with no grain crop to harvest, and scarce feed for the few animals left.

That is the harsh reality at fourth-generation farmer Louise Smith's property at Maggea, 200 kilometres east of Adelaide.

Louise runs the farm alongside her brother Tim, and the pair hasn't harvested a crop to sell at market for the past two years.

"We don't have a continuous cash flow coming in, we'd probably be better off going on the dole knowing you've got a cheque coming in every two weeks,"

she said.

"Never have we seen it this bad and this dry ... it's a part of history I never want to be part of again."

Now entering their third harvest season fruitless, they have sold almost all of their cattle and have halved their flock of sheep.

It is a decision taking a heavy mental toll.

"Many nigh

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