Managing dry conditions
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Summary
Dry conditions and droughts often increase the risk of soil erosion and degradation due to reduced vegetative cover resulting from poor crop and pasture growth.
In dry times it is important to make risk management decisions early, to minimise soil degradation and maximise opportunities for recovery post-drought.
This page will help you:
- understand the different definitions for drought
- access Drought Resilience Plans for some of South Australia’s agricultural regions
- access resources and tools to assist with land management decisions in dry conditions.
Drought
There is no universal definition of drought. It's measured in different ways and at different timescales:
- Meteorologists monitor the extent and severity of drought in terms of rainfall deficiencies (or shortages, compared to average rainfall for the period).
- Agriculturalists rate the impact on primary industries.
- Hydrologists examine surface and groundwater levels.
- Sociologists define it by social expectations and perceptions and the impact on the community.
Drought resilience plans
Drought resilience plans have been produced for South Australia's regions, funded by the Future Drought Fund as part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program. These plans were developed in partnership with local councils, industry groups, and communities, and are listed below:
| Region Drought Resilience Plan | Date Published |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island | March 2025 |
| Eyre Peninsula | March 2025 |
| Far North and Outback | February 2025 |
| Limestone Coast | March 2025 |
| Murraylands and Riverland | March 2024 |
| Northern and Yorke | March 2024 |
Resources for drought management decisions
In dry times it is important to make risk management decisions early, such as setting up containment areas to manage stock when paddock feed is limited, seeking agistment or selling stock to reduce feed demand on the property.
Annual and seasonal conditions are being monitored by DEW using statewide satellite imagery to help assess the extent and severity of the dry conditions. This data and reporting can help with long-term planning.
Below are some useful links, tools and resources that you might need, to make the necessary management and financial decisions on farm, and most importantly to look after mental health in tough times.
Find out more:
- Drought resilience adoption and innovation hub - SA Drought Hub
- Drought support - PIRSA
- Drought statement (reports) - BoM
- Dealing with the dry - GRDC
- Dry times (series of factsheets and reports) - - Landscape South Australia Northern and Yorke
- Managing soils during and after drought in cropping systems (factsheet) - Soil CRC
- Managing soils during and after drought in grazing systems (factsheet) - Soil CRC
Page Updated: April 2026
