HYNAM farmer Gary Burgess said it was ironic the state government was discussing drought support when farmers had to bear significant hikes in emergency services and natural resource management levies.
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He fears many farming businesses are facing a "cash crisis" - the South East is now close to three years of drier-than-normal rainfall.
At a time when profits are dropping, he said landholders were facing a barrage of rises, including the NRM levy which went up more than 300 per cent in the past decade.
"We get no benefit here in the SE from funding the Grenfell Street head office of the Department of Environment yet we are paying for it," Gary said.
His NRM and ESL levies have risen from $300-$400 to about $4000 a year in the past few years.
He said the government had not just removed the rebate on ESL but was baulking at its responsibility to pay the levy on state infrastructure such as national parks, hospitals and schools.
"They want taxpayers to do it instead," Gary said.
Many financially struggling farmers in the SE were unlikely to be eligible for the federal government's concessional loans as they were carrying higher debt than the 60 per cent equity levels needed to meet the criteria.
Without some financial assistance Gary said there could be dire effects for local service providers and country towns such as Naracoorte.
A simple solution to keep money flowing in the community was for federal and state governments to offer drought-affected areas concessions or even waive government levies and charges until good seasons return.
This could include registrations and the NRM and ESL levies.
"We are not talking big bikkies but it would make a big difference to small towns particularly," Gary said.
"We need to come out the other side of these dry times at least no worse off. We can't afford to lose a single business and have our town end up like one of those towns that used to be there."
Gary, who was at the drought forum, said they had been taken for granted for far too long and it was time to stand up.
"Even though only 40 per cent of the population lives outside Adelaide those 40pc produce most of the wealth of the state," he said.
"Agriculture is the last remaining major industry for SA. We just need some recognition for it."
