Recent rainfall dumped 80mm of rain across the north and east of Victoria with the downpour missing drought-affected farmers in south-west Victoria. Farmers in the state’s south-west report heavy cracking soils with very low subsoil moisture.

There have been record low rainfall across the south-west since April 2023 according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The persistent dry has extended up to two years in parts of the state with no significant rainfall forecast for the rest of the month.

South Australian farmers are also experiencing drought conditions with reports of dams running dry. Farmers are petitioning the SA Government for more drought support.