GrainCorp has announced that it will be opening a reduced number of sites this year, due to the smaller production outlook.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we’re committed to supporting growers as much as we can during this time, while ensuring the most efficient use of resources,” a Graincorp spokesman said.

“We will be adapting our network to reflect the conditions across the east coast – several sites will remain closed, but we will be making sites available upon request.

“Growers can simply ring or text our site managers prior to delivery to ensure the site is open and staffed.

“We’re well positioned to respond to demand when it is presented, so growers are invited to contact their local GrainCorp grower services team to discuss opportunities for delivery of their 2018-19 winter crop.”

No decision has yet be announced as to exactly which silos in the Riverina will be affected.

Illabo farmer David Carter estimates yields from properties in his area could be down by as much as half compared to other years.

Mr Carter said as many as three-quarters of growers in the area would not be harvesting canola crops that had been planted in the winter, with a great deal of it now being cut for hay.

Mark Hoskinson, a ​GrainGrowers policy group member who farms at Kikoira, was expecting the drought to have a huge effect on seasonal employment.

“There will be a lot of young people, like university students, who would have been wanting a harvest job and now won’t get one,” Mr Hoskinson said.

“Jobs are going to be tight.”

Having recently driven from his own property to Dubbo, Mr Hoskinson said that despite a “green tinge” from recent rain, many growers were cutting their crops for hay instead of trying to harvest the grain.

Not only would this mean less grain being harvested, it could also lead to a shortage of stock feed in the coming months.

Mr Hoskinson said a lot of university students who traditionally worked in GrainCorp silos may need to consider travelling to the MIA, where irrigation had helped boost wheat crops and wine grapes would be ready for picking in the new year.

Matt Toscan, a farmer from the Coleambally area, will be harvesting wheat, as will others who have irrigated their crops.

He said work would also be available when grape growers began harvesting their vintage.

“We will get wheat because of the irrigation. It will be pretty good,” Mr Toscan said.

The Australian government commodity forecaster, ABARES, has predicted a 12 per cent drop in winter grain production compared to 2017’s figures because of the drought.

ABARES’ latest crop report is tipping winter production, which includes wheat, barley, canola, pulses and oats, to yield 33.2 million tonnes.