Managing resources in dry conditions and drought
Improving farm management practices can help you recover more quickly from drought.
Drought feeding and management of livestock
The sheep and beef drought feeding and management books with other related livestock feeding resources, tools and links can now be found on feeding livestock.
Fodder and stockfeed requirements
Summer and dry conditions often mean Victorian farmers have to source fodder and livestock feed from other states and regions. This can pose biosecurity threats.
Biosecurity threats associated with the importation of livestock feed and fodder pose a serious risk to plant and animal industries in Victoria.
Learn more about importing fodder from interstate and how to apply for a permit.
Stock containment areas
Stock containment areas (SCAs) enable farmers to fence off part of the farm to hold, feed and water livestock in tough conditions such as drought and after a bushfire.
SCAs deliver a range of benefits during droughts, including minimising soil erosion, enabling faster pasture recovery, limiting the spread of weeds and allowing for good stock management.
Review the case studies below.
Read more information on stock containment areas.
Case study videos
Watch videos on dry weather farming.
- Stock containment areas - Trever Roberts
- Stock containment areas - Lachlan Ralton
- Stock containment areas - Jason Pymer
Case studies
- Flexible management tools
[PDF File - 295.8 KB] - Flexible management tools
[MS Word Document - 601.1 KB] - A valuable tool [PDF File - 177.7 KB]
- A valuable tool [MS Word Document - 155.8 KB]
- Making the call and acting early [PDF File - 149.5 KB]
- Making the call and acting early [MS Word Document - 405.7 KB]
- Experience in using stock containment pays dividends [PDF File - 269.3 KB]
- Experience in using stock containment pays dividends [MS Word Document - 726.5 KB]
- A key tool during dry times [PDF File - 275.6 KB]
- A key tool during dry times [MS Word Document - 472.8 KB]
Animal health and welfare
Farmers have legal obligations to protect the welfare of livestock on their property. Drought calls for hard economic decisions to be made, particularly on the fate of stock.
Take action early to minimise the impacts. Animal health in a drought provides important information to aid decision making.
Water management
When preparing for or entering extended dry conditions or periods of drought, it is important to understand what demands are being made on existing farm water storages. View more information on water and irrigation related specifically to farming and agriculture.
More information
- Managing a wool enterprise through drought [PDF File - 353.4 KB]
- Managing a wool enterprise through drought – accessible [MS Word Document - 843.6 KB]
The following industry groups have a range of resources on managing dry seasons and drought: