THE SA Country Women’s Association will enact its emergency aid fund – for the first time in a decade – to help the state’s farmers battling drought-like conditions.

The CWA has up to $200,000 to distribute to SA farmers hurt by the lack of rain, high fodder prices and gale-force winds, which this week continued to lash the state.

Its state president Roslyn Schumann said many rural communities were feeling the pinch and under extreme stress, given the dry conditions, which have crippled NSW and Queensland.

“Unfortunately, it’s not going to be a brilliant season and it’s so sad visiting some of these places because the conditions vary so markedly,” Ms Schumann said.

The not-for-profit group will issue grants of about $3000, dependent on circumstance, to families doing it tough as part of its “helping hand for farmers” campaign.

Some farmers in the north of the state say they are experiencing the worst conditions in more than 40 years, with just a quarter of their average rainfall.

“Farming families are as proud as any other sector of the community and don’t like to accept help, but if we can lend a hand to farmers, in the good times they can help someone else,” Ms Schumann said. “The application form is ready and all people need to do is make contact and we can issue these almost immediately.”

The emergency aid fund was made up of $150,000 from Dick Smith Foods, donations and funds from the Parma for a Farma campaign.

The CWA is also expected to receive a portion of more than $5 million raised in Coles stores to help Australia’s drought-affected families.

Ms Schumann believed the last time the CWA emergency aid fund was enacted was 10 years ago.

The CWA has served the community since 1929 to promote the welfare and life conditions for women and children, in the city and the country.

The grants are to be used to help with household bills and various expenses and can be accessed through Rural Business Support counsellors.

On the Eyre Peninsula, EPIC Grain Brokers and Mentally Fit EP are also appealing for financial donations, land to agist stock and help baling hay.

The two groups have had more than $6000 donated, with feed being allocated to farmers at Arno Bay and Cowell, as part of the campaign.

Owen Primary School students, who started their own “Rope 4 Hope” fundraiser, have sold more than 1000 homemade bracelets to buy a truckload of hay.