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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 cm down to 1 metre as a reference point for a paddock.
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Map of Victoria showing locations of monitoring sites
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| Locations of Agriculture Victoria soil moisture monitoring sites |
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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.
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| Weather and soil moisture monitoring observations |
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Growing season rainfall deciles for Victoria. Although April was dry, May rainfall improved conditions across cropping zones of the state, lifting early growing season deciles into 4 to 7.
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May rainfall deciles for Victoria. Above average rainfall for the Mallee and parts of the Wimmera in May.
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Monthly rainfall totals for May. All areas of Victoria received more than 25 mm of rainfall in May, with areas receiving more than 50 mm beginning to develop favourable growing conditions entering winter.
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Soil moisture measurements displayed on the Agriculture Victoria dashboard.
Pasture sites
Pasture sites in the southwest and Gippsland are not yet fully wet and remain dry at depth at probe monitoring locations. Most of these sites are dominated by perennial species, which have responded to May rainfall and are generating growth. However, runoff into dams has not yet occurred.
Cropping sites north of the divide
North of the divide, cropping sites have shown a positive increase in shallow soil moisture, supporting crop germination and strong emergence. However, several grain-growing districts still have deep moisture deficits lingering from the dry summer.
In areas that received decile 10 rainfall in March, May rain has supported crop growth and improved the connection to deeper soil moisture, setting up above-average yield potential. The Wimmera and Mallee are well ahead of the usual establishment schedule, with crops appearing relatively even. Paddock crop establishment assessments are recommended in early June.
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| Soil moisture speedos 1 June 2026 |
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Note – use extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring to activate your preferred reference monitoring location soil moisture percentage.
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The extensionaus SMM dashboard map provides the option to either select crop or grazing sites. This is a map of all sites soil moisture percentages 1 June including annual winter crop and non-cropped paddocks and perennial pastures.
Cropping sites are reviewed in more detail in the sections below and review the individual sites by clicking on the sites title to see the latest effects of rain in early June.
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| Seeding depth soil moisture/Plant density calculator |
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Why crop density matters
Favourable autumn and early winter seeding conditions across most of the state have made crop establishment easier than in many previous years. With most crops now emerging, it is important to check plant density early, as establishment at this stage can strongly influence final yield.
Using the Crop Plant Density tool
The Crop Plant Density tool provides a simple way for growers and agronomists to assess establishment and support crop management decisions based on the number of plants that have successfully emerged this season.
How to access it
You can find the crop density calculator on the soil moisture dashboard and save it to your smartphone home screen for quick access when completing paddock plant counts across different crop types.
https://extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring/estimating-crop-plant-density/
Instructions on conducting plant counts are demonstrated here
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| Speedo soil moisture graphs |
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| Werrimull soil moisture (20–90 cm) |
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Commissioned in 2024 and currently finalising calibration with evidence of moisture improvement down to 80 cm in autumn. Connection to deep moisture reserves with the 22 May rain event.
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Barley establishment at Werrimull (15 May)
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Full profile at Speed and wheat growing following vetch in 2025
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Wheat emerging at Speed (15 May). Soil coring to valiadate data https://x.com/daleboyd2/status/2062663751611150754?s=46
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Minor shallow soil moisture improvements at Normanville through May.
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The SoilWater app model shows an improvement in topsoil moisture during May and connection to deeper reserves. Current levels are well above average and there is still capacity to build deeper soil moisture reserves.
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Rainfall infiltrated to 60 cm on 17 May reflecting positive conditions in this part of the Wimmera.
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Rainfall infiltrated to 100 cm in early March, increasing soil moisture by 40% since mid-February. Recent rainfall has further connected with and added to these residual moisture reserves.
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Above-average rainfall in late February and March improved soil moisture. These conditions also supported effective early weed control. May data provided evidence that topsoil moisture had connected with deeper reserves.
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Shallow soil moisture that was lost in April from early volunteer plant growth has been recovered in May and this favourable topsoil is supporting the germination and establishment of planted crops. Moisture increased 3 times associated with good rain events in May and infiltrated down to 50 cm and connected to the deeper reserves.
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Mid layer soil moisture is good and 33 mm of rain in May has supported crop germination and emergence.
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The paddock/monitoring point is in fallow and no crop using soil moisture in 2026.
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The soil profile has recovered from the shallow moisture lost in April to volunteer plant growth, and the improved topsoil conditions are supporting germination and crop establishment. In May, moisture infiltrated to 40 cm and connected with deeper reserves.
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Calibration at Elmore is being reset after the original site was affected by an irrigation footprint from a pivot irrigator. The new site was established in 2025. Rain in early May created ideal conditions for crop emergence, and by mid-May moisture had infiltrated to 20 cm, moving below the seedbed and connecting with deeper reserves.
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Modelled soil moisture at Elmore with the Soilwater app is at 67% and is rated higher than average. Like the moisture probe, there were 2 improvements to soil moisture conditions during May.
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No changes to the soil moisture measured at Youanmite through May with average decile rainfall. Shallow moisture is excellent and crop establishment (particularly canola is great). For soil moisture improvements for early June, please use this link.
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The SoilWater app model is at 53% soil moisture. Current levels are just below average after being above average in March reflecting the dry April. Soilwater app
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A dry March/April and the volunteer plants in the paddock put on growth but depleted the shallow moisture. There was not enough rain in May to replenish that resource, with plant growth stopped and no rain fallen in early June.
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The SoilWater app model shows small improvement in soil moisture, but crop establishment is good. Deep soil moisture reserves are low. Current levels are below average.
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Rainfall has supported plant establishment in cropping paddocks, with moisture infiltration reaching 60 cm. There has been some improvement at 80 cm, but deep soil moisture deficits remain.
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The SoilWater app model shows small improvement in soil moisture and deep soil moisture reserves are low. Current levels are below average but better than last year’s levels.
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This site was commissioned in May 2025 and is currently working through a calibration estimate. The profile was half filled last year. Through May, each rain event deposited moisture to 20 cm and there is small evidence of infiltration to 30 cm.
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The SoilWater app model shows limited improvement in soil moisture and deep soil moisture reserves are low. Current levels are average and slightly better than last year’s autumn.
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| Yella - Y - Poora (30–100 cm) |
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Consistent small rain events in May have resulted in shallow infiltration to 50 cm, and soil moisture reserves remain low.
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