2025 Dry Season & Seasonal Conditions Resources

Having access to timely and trusted information is critical during challenging seasonal conditions.

The Vic Hub is committed to connecting regional communities with up-to-date tools, resources and support — sourced from across our network of Nodes, Partners and stakeholders — to help with planning, decision-making and wellbeing throughout these dry times in 2025.

Drought Support

In-drought support measures are available now for Victorian farmers. For information visit:

Agriculture Victoria: Dry Seasons and Drought Support

Australian Government: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – drought.gov.au

Other resources in this section include additional information about free and independent financial counselling, low-interest loans for farm businesses, Farm Household Allowance, tax concessions, fact sheets, information from our Nodes, and more.

While the Vic Hub is focused on supporting farmers to prepare and build resilience ahead of challenging conditions, we also collaborate closely with Agriculture Victoria (AgVic), which leads response efforts during times of drought.

AgVic – also a partner in the Vic Hub consortium – provides a wide range of practical resources, programs and support services to help farmers during, and after, periods of dry seasonal conditions. Below are some key links you may find helpful:

On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants
The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant Program supports on-farm upgrades that provide immediate support in managing drought and build future resilience.
View the Grant Program
Drought Support Services: Access up-to-date information on drought assistance, workshops, tools, and services.
Explore Drought Support
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Resource Directory
A comprehensive guide to health and wellbeing support available across Victoria.
View the Directory
Preparing Your Farm for Dry Conditions
Tips, tools and information to plan ahead and improve drought resilience.
View the tips and tools

Other Resources

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) – This is an ongoing Australian Government program. It provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

RIC (Regional Investment Corporation) – Funded by the Australian Government, RIC offers low-interest loans to farm businesses to strengthen Australian agriculture and build thriving regional communities.

Farm Household Allowance (FHA) – This program provides assistance to commercial-scale farmers and their partners who are experiencing financial hardship for any reason.

Australian Taxation Office: Drought Support – Help for individuals, businesses and primary producers affected by drought.

Agriculture Victoria: Resource Directory – Links to local organisations that may be able to provide assistance during dry times.

You can also visit agriculture.vic.gov.au for more resources tailored to your region and farming system.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with upcoming events, new resources, and funding opportunities by visiting our Events page and signing up to our newsletter. It’s the easiest way to stay informed and connected with drought resilience activities across Victoria.

Regional Resources – Vic Hub Nodes

Below you will find some resources relevant to your region.

Southern Farming Systems
Mallee Regional Innovation Centre
Food & Fibre Gippsland
Birchip Cropping Group
Riverine Plains
Fact Sheets
Handbook - rural mental health guide

South-West Node (SFS)

Local Community Support Contacts

Type: Contacts
Overview: A list of key wellbeing contact details across the South-West region to assist during the dry season.

View key contacts

Uncertain Times Workshop & Tools

Type: Workshop & Resources
Overview: This workshop series, delivered across South-West Victoria in early 2025, supports producers through the dry season with practical tools and expert-led sessions on farm finance, pastures and livestock management. Resources from the sessions—including budgeting tools, pasture guides and livestock health info—are available for ongoing use.

View the workshop information and resource tools

Autumn/Winter Feedbase Planning

Type: Workshop & Resources
Overview: Delivered across multiple South-West locations in Autumn 2025, this workshop series equips producers with the tools and knowledge to assess and plan their feedbase under dry seasonal conditions. The sessions and webinar focus on whole-farm feed budgeting, pasture growth projections, and livestock management strategies for Autumn and Winter.

View the workshop information and ongoing resources

North-West Irrigated Horticulture Node (MRIC)

MRIC Publications

Type: Reports, Fact Sheets, Case Studies & Tools
Overview: A collection of region-specific insights, tools and case studies developed through consultation, research, and local engagement across the Mallee.

View the range of publications

Gippsland Node (FFG)

Digging Deeper Podcast

Type: Podcast
Overview: Hosted by Alistair Micallef from the Gippsland Ag Group, this farmer-led podcast delivers timely insights, practical tips and real conversations to support rural communities and farming businesses across the seasons. Launching in February 2025, it covers everything from autumn sowing to summer harvest, with episodes available on Apple, Spotify and the Gippsland Ag website.

Listen to the podcast

North-West Node (BCG)

Shared Ag Solutions

Type: Podcast
Overview: Hosted by Janine Batters from Birchip Cropping Group, this podcast series features conversations with growers, researchers, and industry experts, the series dives into real-world strategies for workforce management, financial planning, drought-proofing, and applying the latest ag research to drive smarter decision-making on-farm.

Listen to the podcast

Managing patchy canola in marginal moisture

Type: Recorded webinar
Overview: This webinar brings together researchers and agronomists to answer live questions and share timely advice on managing crop establishment during a dry season. With practical take-home messages on crop recovery, re-sowing strategies, and seed viability testing, the session supports farmers and advisors navigating tough in-season decisions. Featuring experts from CSIRO, SMS Rural, ExceedAg and AgriVision Swan Hill.

Watch the webinar

Seedling survival in marginal moisture

Type: In-Season Trial Update
Overview: With dry sowing now a common practice in response to reduced sowing season rainfall, BCG is revisiting seedling survival research to support grower decision-making. This ongoing trial tracks crop germination and emergence at sites across Birchip, Curyo and Quambatook to understand how long germinated but un-emerged seedlings can survive under marginal moisture. The study includes real-time assessments, simulated rainfall plots, and insights into the viability of dry-sown crops across changing soil and weather conditions.

Read and watch the latest trial updates and observations

North-East Node (Riverine Plains)

Tips for livestock producers preparing for a dry season

Type: Blog
Overview: Practical advice covering animal health, nutrition, feed budgeting and tools to support key decisions during dry conditions.

Read the blog

Farmers inspiring Farmers

Type: Podcast
Overview: Real stories and relevant insights for Riverine Plains producers and beyond.

Listen to the podcast

Building Livestock Drought Resilience

Type: Project
Overview: This NE Node-led Vic Hub project explored the low uptake of stock containment areas in drought management. Through engagement, gap analysis and farmer focus groups, the project discovered barriers to uptake and developed a plan for future investment in this area.

Learn more about the project

Increasing Drought Resilience through long-term nitrogen management

Type: Project
Overview: This SNSW Hub project deals with being able to optimise water availability and prevent nutrient loss is an important way that farmers can prepare for dry times. Learn how long-term nitrogen strategies can help improve drought resilience and protect water and nutrient availability

Find out more

Managing cash flow in 2025

Type: News article
Overview: In response to high 2024 costs and low returns, this article explores financial options to help farmers manage through 2025.

Learn more

Fact sheets to download

This range of fact sheets offer different sorts of help, from financial to mental health

Rural Support Fact Sheet

Rural Support (fact sheet)

Visit Resource

RIC Fact Sheet

RIC (fact sheet)

Visit Resource

Farm Household Allowance

Farm Household Allowance (fact sheet)

Visit Resource

FHA - Training Providers and the $10,000 Activity Supplement

FHA - Training Providers and the $10,000 Activity Supplement (fact sheet)

Visit Resource

Mental health tool - Bottling it up? (fact sheet)

Mental health tool - Bottling it up?

Visit Resource

Harvesting Change: Breaking Stigma, Building Resilience

VFF handbook – 'Harvesting Change: Breaking Stigma, Building Resilience'

This handbook has been written by farmers, and mental health professionals with experience in rural and regional settings. With the purpose of connecting rural communities with mental health resources.

Farming is not just a job – it’s a way of life. Yet, the emotional and mental burdens that come with it are often underestimated or, worse, ignored. The pressures of unpredictable weather, economic uncertainty, isolation, and the responsibility of sustaining livelihoods can have a profound impact on a farmer’s mental health. According to a recent report, depression and anxiety are prevalent among Australian farmers at levels higher than the general population.

This is a crisis we can no longer afford to overlook.

As we continue to face the realities of farming life, let’s also commit to fostering safer, healthier, and more supportive communities. By addressing mental health with the same dedication we apply to our work on the land, we can ensure a brighter, more resilient future for all.

Access the handbook