Farmers and rural industries have experienced great hardship and that has had a flow-on effect to the towns and villages that they depend on, and which depend on them.

So it is very pleasing that Upper Lachlan Shire Council has been included as one of the 128 councils eligible to apply for up to $1 million funding under the Federal Government's Drought Communities Program.

While the program's guidelines haven't been issued yet, eligible projects and infrastructure will need to stimulate local government spending; use local resources, businesses and suppliers; and provide a long-lasting benefit to communities and the agricultural industries on which they depend.

Once the program's guidelines have been made available, Upper Lachlan Shire Council will be able to discern suitable projects.

In general, the conditions mentioned will ensure chosen projects will maximise the benefit to communities by injecting money locally and providing benefits for now and into the future - providing both an immediate economic stimulus and long- term safeguarding.

Ideally, projects will also provide employment for people whose work opportunities have been impacted by drought.

The Federal Government has previously approved loans of up to $2 million for farmers, and interest free loans of up to $500,000 for businesses that depend on agriculture under its drought relief package.

While these measures don't alleviate the effects of the drought altogether, they do help cushion the blow and are greatly appreciated.