Queensland's unprecedented drought has spread to the east coast, with more than 86 per cent of the state now affected.
The Burdekin, Townsville, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama councils, and parts of the Cook, Whitsunday and Isaac councils, were declared drought-affected on Thursday.
Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said the latest additions would "signal just how severe this drought is".
"This is coming onto the coast; this is coming into areas of traditionally very high rainfall," he said at Giru, south of Townsville.
"Areas that rely on high rainfall for much of its agricultural production."
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The new declarations take the total number of councils affected to 36, while a further five regions have some parts in drought.
AgForce senior policy adviser Dr Dale Miller says the Cook Shire has not been drought-declared since 1978.
He said farmers would have a long road ahead of them even when the rain starts to fall.
"If you have got a three-year drought it could take about six years to fully recover (the farm)," he told AAP.
"In fact, the financial impacts can be felt for a decade."
The declarations mean local producers can begin to access government drought assistance schemes.
They were made early due to a recent lack of rainfall.
Dr Miller said the drought had gone on for so long that its effects were impacting on the economies of rural towns.
He said any government recovery plan would have to take that into account.
There are 40 drought-affected properties outside the declared regions.
Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg called on the state government to make sure all necessary assistance was made available in people's "time of need".
