Ian Shippen, a 42-year-old former rice farmer with spiked hair, is considered a rural prophet in the arid salt plains located 1,000 kilometres west of Sydney. He believes that the ongoing drought in Australia's food bowl will bring about permanent changes in agriculture in the driest settled continent in the world. Shippen predicts a return to traditional farming methods from a century ago, focusing on growing broadacre areas and raising sheep. He expressed his concerns about large areas of land becoming unproductive, with one sheep needing 5 to 6 acres to graze. Shippen believes that the current drought will have a significant impact on agriculture in the region. Shippen, along with many others, is trying to find solutions to overcome the drought by taking a risk and transitioning from irrigated cropping. Nine years ago, he cultivated rice on 2,000 acres of previously dry land that was irrigated with water from the eastern Australian alps, a long drive away. Shippen and his wife, Camilla, who is the daughter of a city doctor, predicted a shift in conditions as a prolonged dry period began and water prices started to rise, altering the economics of irrigation. Shippen believes that the increasing cost of water has transformed it from an asset to a liability. Shippen explains that farmers who sell their water will end up with a large area of land that is dry. He is a respected local councillor among other farmers, who are observing his method of selling water licenses to purchase more land. Shippen initially owned a few thousand acres but now possesses over 180,000 acres, supporting 45,000 sheep and lambs, 8,000 cattle, and holds A$10 million ($8.2 million) in bank debt. This debt requires annual interest payments of A$900,000, putting pressure on incomes during the drought. Shippen emphasizes the impact of debt, stating that it forces them to work tirelessly to meet the demands of the bankers. He discusses this while speaking to Reuters on the porch of his large home surrounded by white flowers. Shippen sees opportunity in the midst of drought despite the nervousness about the upcoming summer and the potential loss of crops and stock sales. He believes that there will be cheap farms available for those who can hold on, highlighting the competitive nature of farmers. Shippen identifies the shift in water politics as the most significant change, as Australian governments recognize the importance of conserving water in the face of a possible permanent climate change. Shippen laments that due to the current boom in commodities and the sale of Australian resources to China, farmers have lost their political influence to advocate for national projects such as redirecting coastal rivers westward to potentially mitigate future droughts. He expresses his frustration by stating that farmers, who make up only 2 percent of the population, feel irrelevant and expendable. Shippen explains that as a result, they are forced to sell livestock, use wheat for hay, sell crops for food, reduce their workforce, and hope they can endure the challenging circumstances.