The Baker family of The Prairies, Kelvin, might not get a lot of time together usually, Hannah Baker said, but the rewards outweigh the challenges.

“We’re very blessed,” she said.

Mrs Baker is not from a farming background but joined the sector when she married husband Glen – then little Daisy, 3, and Banjo, eight months, came along.

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They live on a family property where they are mixed farmers – cattle and sheep; and crops including wheat, faba beans, chickpeas, sorghum but mainly cotton.

An average day, Mrs Baker said, was “just the kids and I”.

“Glen works massive hours .. he’ll leave in the morning and get home, lately, anywhere from 8pm to midnight.”

Despite this, she said, he had “neverending energy” for his family.

The Bakers recently brought in their durum wheat, which was “not much of a harvest this year” thanks to the drought.

“We were one of the lucky ones to have a harvest, but it normally goes for a couple of weeks; it was a couple of days this year.”

However, for all the ups and downs, “Where we live, it’s beautiful, it’s freedom,” she said.

“There’s no neighbours, we’re living in a pretty beautiful old homestead, so that’s pretty special,” she said.

“I wouldn’t bring up our kids anywhere else – they get to see seed delivered, plant it with Dad, pick it with Dad, see the crop leave the farm; it’s pretty cool.”

NSW Farmers’ president James Jackson said farmers’ determination and innovation should never be underestimated.

“Farmers across the state, and indeed many parts of the country, are making tough decisions every day as this drought continues.

“They are decisions that impact farmers and their local communities financially but also physically, mentally and emotionally.

“But their resilience must be commended, and the community’s support no doubt is playing a vital role in helping farmers get through this tough period.”