The Minns Labor Government is expanding its drought plan with new financial support products and services for farmers and communities as dry conditions continue across parts of NSW.
Following discussions by the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty and the Southern NSW Drought Coordinator with farmers and their families, plus mayors and local MPs, further assistance will be immediately rolled out to help those in need.
The new additional measures have been identified following comprehensive consultation across southern NSW, with the drought coordinator attending more than 60 events and meeting hundreds of people in the last three months.
Collectively these new initiatives and services give farmers additional help to manage risk, protect livestock, cover short term cash-flow needs, and make better informed decisions.
The Minns Government's expanded drought plan for assistance and services will now include:
- Doubling the loan amount available from $250,000 up to $500,000 under the $250 million Drought Ready and Resilient Fund - this has been called for by farmers because doubling the cap to $500,000 enables them to undertake larger, sustainability‑focused drought resilience projects while also covering operational costs such as feed and transport.
- New small Drought Relief Loan of up to $100,000 established - this new product will provide farmers with immediate, low‑cost finance to help manage the impacts of drought. With an upfront payment option, reduced documentation requirements, and no property as security on the loan requirement - farmers can get funds faster, easier and cheaper.
- NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service $1.8M funding - provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.
- Drought Adoption Officer Program funding extended $1.2 million funding - this Minns Government initiative started in late 2023 has been extended to December 2026, due to the success delivered - 2,000 one-on-one landholder consultations, & 880 events and farm visits.
- Term of the Southern NSW Drought Coordinator extended - initial six months now extended to end of 2026 and expanded to western NSW where dry conditions are challenging farmers.
- Free feed and water testing available statewide, $250,000 funding - Local Land Services will make available statewide test kits to help farmers assess feed and water quality to plan feed budgets and manage their livestock's health.
- Reduce kangaroo populations in drought affected western NSW, $1.2 million funding - to help combat the emerging kangaroo grazing pressure competing for feed and water.
- Increase the targeting of feral pigs and deer for landholder, $2 million program - supporting landholders in drought-impacted regions where limited food and water drives the feral and pest animals to compete with livestock around critical water points and shaded areas.
To ensure farmers and communities become aware of these new services and the whole suite of assistance, a series of local events will be delivered across southern and western NSW.
The new loans will be administered by the Minns Government's Rural Assistance Authority with applications opening from 10 March 2026.
These measures complement the Minns Government's existing drought plan's support such as:
- $250 million Drought Ready and Resilient Fund established in late 2023 provides low‑interest loans for farmers.
- Recently announced additional $43.2 million for the Farm Business Resilience Program jointly funded through the Future Drought Fund to help farmers manage drought, adapt to climate change, and build resilience.
- Continued funding, as announced in the 2025/26 budget, for the Farmgate Support Program, enabling essential mental health support for farmers and farming families.
- $20 million Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, co-funded with the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund to develop practical plans to prepare and recover.
- Local Land Services farmer extension services - on-the-ground expert drought, agricultural, biosecurity, and veterinary advice. Including the Drought Adoption Officers program launched in late 2023 and now extended.
- Tool and resources - such as myStockPlanner launched in October 2025, a free planning platform to help farmers calculate livestock requirements, feed plans, projected costs of livestock, plus sale and retention options to get through challenging times.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
"The Minns Government recognises the pressures facing farmers in these dry conditions, and the expansion of our drought assistance and services demonstrates we will act to support those in need.
"Our innovative and practical approach is shown by the new range of low-cost financial products so farmers can get funds faster, easier and cheaper. This is what they wanted and we are delivering.
"Our Government has been implementing new drought initiatives over the last six months following meetings I've had with farmers, mayors and local MPs.
"Just two weeks ago I met the MP for Cootamundra and her electorate's local mayors. Next week I am meeting all the Riverina East Mayors in Wagga to discuss how these new measures are being rolled out.
"Practical measures have been boosted to benefit the operations of the farm, such as free water and feed testing, and enhanced targeting of feral pigs, pests and kangaroos who are competing against livestock for food and water across the drier grazing areas.
"The southern NSW drought coordinator and drought adoption officer program we introduced has demonstrated its success and that is why we are funding the extension of the role and program to keep working with farmers and assist them to access services and support.
"The Minns Government knows farmers and their families need mental health or financial counselling services during these challenging times and we have funded those services to make sure they are available.
"There have been some calls for transport and feed subsidies, but expert advice from the previous Nationals-Liberal Government's 2021 evaluation report into drought relief measures, showed they provide very low value for money. We also know they can drive up prices of transport and feed.
"Our Government is focused on cost effective measures that deliver real benefits for farmers and communities. This enables us to direct funding in times of drought to the practical, cost-effective support that makes a real difference."
