HOT weather and little rainfall last month has increased the area in NSW affected by drought.
The latest government figures released today show 56.6 per cent of NSW is drought affected, up from 53.3 per cent in December.The area of the state on the verge of drought also increased in January, with marginal conditions recorded in 15.7 per cent of the state, up from 9.1 per cent in December.
Little more than a quarter of NSW is classified as satisfactory.
"We had a promising December where we had a significant drop-offs in drought declarations, but this has now gone back the other way," Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald told reporters in Sydney.
"This state is in a very difficult situation, it's what I would call a balancing act at the moment - it could go either way.
"We really need rain soon."
Mr Macdonald, whose department released the figures, said despite the increase in drought affected areas he was not anticipating a rise in food prices just yet.
While there had been reports of sunburn damage to pumpkin, watermelon, rockmelon and some wine crops, growers were well prepared for the hot weather, he said.
AAP
