Young Farmers Drought Program
Applications are now open for young farmers (aged between 18 and 35 years). The workshop program will cover a range of topics and skills including leadership, working with others and establishing and maintaining support systems in the community. For more information and an application form...

Critical dates for drought programs
A summary of lodgement dates for drought assistance for primary producers and small businesses is now available. For the latest information...

Irrigators Toolkit
River Murray irrigators now have access to a free electronic ‘Toolkit’ to help manage their water allocation and businesses through the drought. For more information...

Drought e-newsletter
Free e-newsletters with regular updates on Government Drought Response activities. Read recent e-newsletters ...

Drought Conditions

The drought conditions section of the PIRSA website provides technical information
and support for individuals, businesses and communities affected by drought conditions including:

Drought Hotline:   Phone 180 20 20  

Freecall, mobile phone charges apply

or log onto www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp for information including:

  • support services
  • local rural financial counsellors
  • Centrelink payments
  • the condition of the River Murray and Murray-Darling Basin.


What is Exceptional Circumstances? 

Exceptional Circumstances (EC) are rare and severe events outside those a farmer could normally be expected to manage using responsible farm management strategies.

An EC declaration of a region triggers short-term support for farmers in situations beyond the scope of normal risk management and when the future of significant numbers of farmers in a region is at risk. Support is also available to agriculture-dependent small businesses.

Support for individual producers and small businesses is available in the form of Relief Payments, managed by Centrelink and Interest Rate Subsidies, managed by each State and Territory Government. In South Australia, Primary Industries and Resources SA manage the program. For interest rate subsidies guidelines and applications forms go to the Exceptional Circumstances page.  

The free drought e-newsletters, provide regular updates on Government Drought Response activities. To subscribe visit the products and services section of the website.

For further information and enquiries contact PIRSA Prudential and Rural Financial Services on 1800 182 235