Queensland dairy farmer opened four campsites after drought forced her family to sell 40 cows

When a severe drought forced Queensland dairy farmer Libby Rough to sell 40 cows, her family faced a frightening financial crisis. Without the regular income from milk sales, everyday costs such as groceries and school fees quickly became hard to pay. To keep the farm going, Rough opened just four unpowered campsites along the river that runs through her dairy property near Kenilworth, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. By January 2022, those four grassy sites had brought in more than A$50,000 in extra income. What began as an emergency step became an important financial lifeline for the family. Rough's experience is part of a growing trend across rural Australia. With changing weather, higher farm costs, and unstable commodity prices, farmers are turning to agritourism and private camping on their land to help keep family farms financially secure.Emergency decision born from droughtThe idea started because the family had little choice during one of the region's driest periods. As the pasture dried and the cost of feed rose, they had to reduce their herd. This meant losing a large share of their regular income from milk production. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...