Dealing with dry times
This portal has been developed to support growers and the broader horticultural industry through the forecast dry times by providing a suite of resources and information to inform decision making.
For additional information and advice, growers are advised to contact their Peak Industry Body and/or relevant Federal and State Government agencies (many of these are listed on this page).
In September 2023, the Bureau of Meteorology declared that El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) were underway.
The Bureau stated that warmer and drier conditions would be more likely over spring and summer for parts of Australia, under the influence of these two climate drivers.
Both El Niño and a positive IOD tend to draw rain away from Australia. El Niño events increase the risk of extreme temperature shifts, such as heatwaves and hotter days.
The last time Australia encountered both El Niño and a positive IOD was in 2015.
For a summarised El Niño explanation video, and what it means for the different regions across Australia, click here.
For up-to-date information about the outlook, go to:
Resources
Australian Government resources
Drought, disaster and rural support: Programs are available to help prepare for, manage and recover from events such as drought.
Future Drought Fund: Provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives. It will help Australian farmers and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.
On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme: The scheme provides rebates to farm businesses to purchase and install critical on-farm water infrastructure.
Regional Investment Corporation: Help to prepare for, manage through, and recover from drought.
Australian Tax Office: Help for primary producers, individuals and businesses affected by drought.
Foundation for Regional Renewal: Small Network Grants for initiatives that assist local people and communities to strengthen social capital and capability to prepare for future droughts.
State resources
NSW
NSW Department of Primary Industries Drought Hub
Drought Assistance – Rural Assistance Authority
Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Innovation Hub
Victoria
Agriculture Victoria – Managing for and during drought
Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub
Queensland
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – drought assistance
Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Innovation Hub
Western Australia
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development – dry seasons and drought
South West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
South Australia
Department of Primary Industry and Regions
SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Tasmania
Department of Natural Resources and Environment – support for farming businesses and families
Farm Business Resilience Program
Northern Territory
Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Australian Capital Territory
Mental health and support
National Farmers’ Federation: Mental Health Resources
Industry-specific research and resources
Hort Innovation continues to invest strategically in research and development, and other initiatives, focused on water use efficiency, climate impact preparedness and management, and sustainable practices.
On behalf of industry, Hort Innovation is a tier 1 partner in the One Basin CRC which is a focused collaboration developing policy, technical and financial solutions to support and reduce exposure to climate, water and environmental threats in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Many multi-industry and industry-specific investments supported by Hort Innovation have generated relevant insights and outputs to assist growers, including the following:
General/multi-industry
Case study: Townsville grower refuses to be held back by drought
Communicating innovation in water use to horticultural industries (HG07026)
Australian horticulture's response to climate change and climate variability (AH06019)
Effect of using reclaimed water on soil health and crop sustainability (MT09097)
Fact sheet: Dendrometers and other sensors
Fact sheet: Using sensors to improve water management in horticulture
Webinar recording: Using dendrometers to manage plant stress
Webinar recording: Using sensors to improve water management in horticulture
Soil Wealth Integrated Crop Protection summary of resources (including irrigation management)
Almond
Optimising water use of Australian almond production through deficit irrigation strategies (AL08009)
Drought strategies for almonds fact sheet
Better tree performance and water use efficiency through root system resilience (AL13009)
Managing almond production in a variable and changing climate (AL14006)
Almond irrigation best practice management (AL17004)
Blueberry
Factsheet: Water use efficiency in blueberries
Facilitating the development of the Australian berry industries (MT18020)
Citrus
Citrus drought information package
Citrus drought survival and recovery trial (CT08014)
Dried grape
Green cities and nursery
Which plant where, when and why database for growing urban green space (GC15002)
Champions of climate change media release
Potato
PotatoLink webinar recording: Mobile drip irrigation - Dragon Line
PotatoLink fact sheet: Matching irrigation to crop growth
PotatoLink Webinar: Precision ag for the potato industry
PotatoLink online training recording: Weather tools from the Bureau of Meteorology
PotatoLink webinar: Setting up for summer - preparation for potato growers
PotatoLink case study: Irrigation scheduling with IrriSAT
Vegetable
Review of current irrigation technologies (VG14048)
Fact sheet: Using recycled water for vegetables
Fact sheet: Precision agriculture in vegetable production
If you know of other resources worthy of sharing to assist growers experiencing the impact of dry times, please contact communications@horticulture.com.au.