Drought preparedness program
Primary producers across all agriculture industries can apply for these grants and loans without needing a drought declaration.
This assistance focuses on preparedness and business planning to manage the ever-present risk of drought in Queensland.
Preparing
- Sustainability Loans of up to $1.3 million can help you invest in infrastructure to secure the future sustainability of your business. You can use these loans for drought preparedness activities and infrastructure that enhances drought resilience.
- First Start Loans of up to $2 million can help you in the initial years of establishing your business.
- Farm Management Grants offer a 50% rebate up to a maximum $2,500, on the cost of eligible professional advice to produce a Farm Business Resilience Plan for your property.
- Drought Preparedness Grants will reopen soon. These grants offer 25% of the cost of purchasing new permanent capital infrastructure (up to a total of $50,000) to improve drought resilience.
- To apply, you need to have a Farm Business Resilience Plan or an equivalent farm business plan that covers the same details.
During drought
Past loans
The Drought Assistance Program included 3 drought loan schemes that were discontinued on 30 June 2025, as no part of Queensland is currently drought-declared:
- Drought Ready and Recovery Loans
- Drought Carry-on Finance Loans
- Emergency Drought Assistance Loans.
Should Queensland face drought conditions again, emergency and drought loan facilities will be considered.