<P> Queensland experienced heavy storms in December 2010 and January 2011, resulting in widespread flooding . </P> <P> Despite Western Australia experiencing its fifth - wettest spring on record, drought in the South West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia's intensified in 2010, with the regions experiencing their driest year on record . Perth's dams registered their lowest inflows on record with the city itself recording its third - driest year on record, along with the hottest spring on record . </P> <P> In South Australia, only two regions in the Riverland remained in drought . Heavy rains elsewhere led to bumper harvests over much of the state, this in turn led to the largest mouse plague since 1993 across parts of South Australia, West Australia and Victoria . While some farmers tried to replant, in some areas many gave up as millions of mice covered their fields . Farmers often characterised the plague as being worse than the drought . </P> <P> Agricultural production was severely affected . Australia's cotton production had dropped, with the smallest area planted in 20 years, a 66% reduction compared to five years earlier which was considered a "normal" year . The crop had been half its usual size for three of the previous five years . Water use by the industry fell by 37% between 2000 / 01 and 2004 / 05, due mainly to the drought . In the order of 20 cotton communities and 10,000 people directly employed by the cotton industry are impacted by the drought . The main areas affected were in New South Wales: Menindee where the area under production has reduced by 100%, Bourke has reduced the area under production by 99%, Walgett has reduced the area under production by 95%, the Macquarie River has reduced the area under </P>

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