The heartbreak caused by the rain deluge that has struck much of New South Wales in the past week could well be the last straw for many farming families.

Today the Nationals Senators for New South Wales John Williams and Fiona Nash have called on the Federal Government to offer Exceptional Circumstances (EC) relief to farmers who are left with a downgraded crop or who have lost their total crop.

It was estimated last week that $500 million will be wiped off the value of the $3.2 billion NSW harvest, but rain and flooding over the weekend would make the damage bill much higher.

Senator Williams said "This the cruellest cut of all. Many parts of NSW have been in years of drought which had a severe impact on production, and at the start of spring growers were rightly optimistic about a bumper crop. But today across the State these hopes are shattered."

Senator Nash said "The Federal Government in consultation with the State Government needs to come forward with EC that would offer interest rate relief and income support. It should also provide replanting grants similar to the scheme introduced by the Howard Government in 2000. At that time the replanting grant ranged from $120 per hectare for wheat and other cereals to $400 per hectare for cotton, with a maximum of $60,000 per enterprise. Obviously these amounts would need to be greater given the higher cost of production now."

Senator Williams added "In rural communities where businesses have suffered flood damage, grants should be made available to them as they will also struggle to survive.

And I call on banks to show compassion and understanding as farmers come to the realisation they are facing another year of reduced income".

The Nationals Senators said they feared further crop losses in weeks to come as the wet weather is predicted to continue.