South Australia's Far North pastoralists hit by 40C heat seek freight rebates for fodder and water to save their cattle Third-generation grazier Matt Williams (26) says that it has taken three years for his property, Nilpinna Station, to recover from six years of drought, pictured on Nilpinna Station, far north South Australia. DROUGHT-STRICKEN Far North pastoralists sweltering through 40 degrees heat this week have called for freight rebates for fodder and water to help keep their cattle alive. Oodnadatta cattle producer Donnagh Clarke said yesterday that it was devastating trying to keep stock alive as temperatures soared above 40 degrees. Mrs Clarke said the South Australian Government had refused the industry's call for emergency water and fodder freight rebates despite SA's Far North pastoral areas only receiving a fraction of their annual rainfall since February last year. TELL US: Are you a farmer - how has the drought affected you? "We've been calling for fodder assistance like Queensland which has had it since May, but the State Government refuses to recognise that drought exists in the Far North," she said. We also need an emergency water rebate to help us put in a new water system so we can move cattle to an area where there is feed, but we can't afford it without support. Allandale received 48mm of rain in February 2012 and 84.8mm for the year, while this year it has received just 59mm as it endures its second severe drought in seven years, following the long-running millennium drought. READ MORE: Firies on alert as state set to sizzle Mrs Clarke said Government support to help maintain livestock was critical to their future because when the drought broke, if they didn't have a cattle herd they wouldn't be able to produce any income. FULL DETAILS: State weather forecasts and radars "The Minister for Agriculture says she won't bring those freight rebates in because it distorts the system," Mrs Clarke said. What is distorting the system is the Queensland pastoralists coming here to buy hay because they can get emergency water and freight rebates for fodder and they pushing up the price for us. We're saying if we can get rebates we can maintain cattle in a healthy store condition so when it does rain they are ready to go again. If you start losing your breeder herd, you have no hope of getting out of it. Agriculture Minister Gail Gago said the State Government recognised the difficult situation that Far North farmers faced and it was about to open applications for eligible farmers to apply for Farm Finance Concessional Loans. "South Australia will deliver the Federal Government's $50 million Concessional Loans package, in which five-year loans for amounts between $200,000 and $650,000 will be available for South Australian farm businesses to restructure up to 50 per cent of their eligible debt," Ms Gago said. Family First MP Rob Brokenshire said that it has been clear for many months that there is a serious drought in the Far North and urged the State Government to provide emergency drought funding to the pastoral areas. Fodder support to help maintain breeding stock and week to week household support were urgently needed, he said.