In Short

• Applications open 10 March: A suite of NSW drought relief measures becomes available from 10 March 2026, including doubled loan limits, a new small drought relief loan and free feed and water testing statewide.
• Loans doubled to $500,000: The maximum loan available under the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund has been doubled from $250,000 to $500,000, with a new streamlined $100,000 loan option also introduced for immediate, low-cost assistance.
• Pest control and financial counselling funded: The package includes $1.2 million to reduce kangaroo populations in drought-affected western NSW, $2 million for feral pig and deer control, and $1.8 million for the NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service.

With drought conditions still gripping parts of south-western NSW even as record rains fall across the Far West, the state government has announced a significant support package for drought-affected farmers, and applications open on 10 March 2026.

The package, announced by the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty, includes a doubling of the maximum loan available under the $250 million Drought Ready and Resilient Fund, from $250,000 up to $500,000. A new small Drought Relief Loan of up to $100,000 has also been established, designed to provide immediate, low-cost finance with an upfront payment option, reduced documentation requirements and no requirement for property as security, making it more accessible for farmers who may not have significant assets to put up against a loan.

The NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service will receive $1.8 million in funding to continue providing free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship. The Drought Adoption Officer Program will also be extended by $1.2 million, and the term of the Southern NSW Drought Coordinator, which was initially six months, has been extended to the end of 2026 and expanded to cover western NSW, where dry conditions continue to challenge farmers.

Free feed and water testing is also available statewide through Local Land Services, backed by $250,000 in funding, a practical measure for farmers trying to manage the quality of what limited feed and water they have on hand.

The package also addresses the well-documented problem of pest animals becoming more competitive and destructive during drought conditions, when limited food and water drive feral animals to congregate around critical livestock water points. $1.2 million has been allocated to reduce kangaroo populations in drought-affected western NSW, while a $2 million program will increase the targeting of feral pigs and deer for landholders in drought-impacted regions.

Mr Butler noted that while the measures are welcome, loans ultimately slow recovery because they have to be repaid. A series of local information events will be held across southern and western NSW to help farmers understand what support is available and how to access it.

Applications open March 10 2026. For more information visit raa.nsw.gov.au/loans/drought-assistance