• Introduction
• Weather and soil moisture monitoring observations
• Speedo assessments – change in overall soil moisture at a particular site.
• Speedo soil moisture graphs
  • Mallee
  • Wimmera
  • North Central
  • Northeast
  • Gippsland cropping
  • Southwest

The soil moisture monitoring (SMM) project, with the use of underground probes, provides real-time soil water content data to Victoria’s farmers.

Monitoring sites have been set up in cropping regions throughout the state by Agriculture Victoria.

The sites record soil water content at one source point from 30 centimetres (cm) down to 1 metre as a reference point for a paddock.

To access information provided in the graphs, log onto the Agriculture Victoria soil moisture monitoring dashboard.

No login or passwords required, and speedos are automatically updated and will represent the most recent rainfall.

Figure 1: June rainfall for Victoria (month to date - 22nd June)
Rainfall in cropping areas of southwest Victoria is tracking to average for June. Kerang district is also a zone that is tracking near average with 35mm for the month to date while other cropping areas are 80% and less.

Figure 2. June rainfall (month to date 22nd June)
The Mallee has had <25mm so far during June and is particularly dry in the Millewa district. Other regions have welcomed >25mm during June that has improved seed bed moisture and, in most cases, initiated crop germination. Crop emergence is occurring now. June (to-date) rainfall totals have not improved deep moisture levels except in parts of the southwest.

Figure 3. May rainfall deciles

May was a very dry month right across the state except the very far east, and this created challenging conditions for crop emergence, particularly those areas that were also dry in April.

Figure 4. April rainfall deciles

There was poor rainfall in the North East and Millewa, but a positive rain event on Anzac Day around the Swan Hill region and south received 20 - 50mm that has created good growing conditions for dry sown crops through autumn and early winter.

Soil moisture measurements displayed on the Agriculture Victoria dashboard. The monitoring of pasture sites highlights the improving conditions in the southwest with a late break in early June. Some areas remain drier than usual in west Gippsland.

Some of the North Central districts have had varying but limited percentage increases to soil moisture in the past month, which has largely been a result of the weather system on the King’s birthday weekend. The Wimmera, parts of southwest Victoria and most of the Mallee remain dry below the initial seed bed.

Note – use extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring to activate your preferred reference monitoring location soil moisture percentage. 

All sites soil moisture percentages 22 June including annual winter crop and non-cropped paddocks and perennial pastures.

The drop-down selection bar on the bottom left-hand side of the map provides the option to either select crop or grazing sites.
Cropping sites are reviewed in more detail in the sections below.

A dry seeding program across most of the state for autumn and early winter has made it a challenge to establish crops. Most crops are now emerging, and it is recommended that crop density is checked as early stages of crop development can have a major influence on final crop yield.
The Crop Plant Density tool is a simple method that will assist cropping farmers and/or their agronomists, to make informed decisions on crop management strategies according to the number of plants they have successfully managed to emerge this season.
Find the crop density calculator on the soil moisture dashboard and save it to your smart phone home page to determine your establishment with some paddock plant counts and for different crop types.

https://extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring/estimating-crop-plant-density/

Commissioned in autumn 2024 and currently being calibrated. No evidence from any individual sensors of any moisture improvement during 2025 and reflects challenging conditions for crop establish.

Limited rain since 25 April in the Ouyen district after a wet harvest period and an isolated rain cell in March charged up the soil profile. The dry May frustratingly created poor seed bed conditions in the heavy soil types to establish crops this autumn.

No deep soil moisture improvements at Speed this season with only small and irregular rain events that have had limited infiltration. Lentils sown and yet to achieve full establishment with marginal seed bed moisture. History shows moisture reserves are not 'in play' until crop has emerged and new seasons moisture is connected to the deeper reserves.

Barley dry sown and emerged soon after the Anzac Day rain. Full ground cover, other district paddocks sown at similar times are progressing through the growth stages and nitrogen has been applied. Warm but dry conditions after crop emergence resulted in the barley crop starting to deplete moisture reserves by the end of May. This demonstrates high yield potential with increasing biomass providing rainfall meets or exceeds plant water requirements from mid-winter.

There has been a very small moisture improvement at the 30cm depth sensor during mid-June but it indicates good seedbed moisture.
Note - fault in the sensor at 90cm.

There have been no moisture improvements at the 30cm sensor. Deep moisture conditions remain dry and crop will be reliant on growing season rainfall.
Note, this paddock is sown to vetch, currently being grazed and end use options include brown manure or hay if biomass is not generated in late winter.

There have been no moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during autumn and winter (to date). Seed bed moisture is permitting wheat to emerge.

There have been no moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during autumn and winter (to date). Seed bed moisture is marginal.

There have been limited moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during June. Seed bed moisture is good and barley has emerged.

There have been limited moisture improvements at a depth of 30cm during June. It’s a small positive sign to encourage root growth from crops that were able to establish after the district’s autumn break on Anzac Day. Crop growth and yield potential is being promoted with application of nitrogen topdressing on canola and barley.

There have been limited moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during June. Seed bed moisture is good.

Modelled soil moisture at Elmore with the Soilwater app compared to moisture probe data. There were two rain events to improve soil moisture reserves -  on 25 April and 15 May and both are reflected with the moisture probe and soilwater app model.

Currently calibrating a new probe but harvest rain that infiltrated to 80cm is still in place. Seed bed moisture for crop emergence has finally been achieved and appears to have connected to last season’s left over soil moisture reserves. Modelled soil moisture at Youanmite with the Soilwater app indicates a similar soil moisture effect with the rain on 20 March and proceeding dry 10 weeks. Generally, this prevented crop establishment until the June rain.

There have been limited moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during June. Seed bed moisture is good.

There have been good moisture improvements at the 30 - 50cm depth during June. Seed bed moisture is good but there are limited deep moisture reserves in the region.

There have been good moisture improvements at the 30-50cm zone during June. Seed bed moisture is good but there are limited deep moisture reserves in the region.

There have been good moisture improvements at the 30-40cm depth during June. Seed bed moisture is good but there are limited deep moisture reserves in the region.