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July 2026 – Issue 3
Introduction
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 original sites record soil water content at one source point from 30 cm down to 1 metre as a reference point for a paddock and recently commissioned sites measure from 20 cm to 130 cm.
Locations of Agriculture Victoria soil moisture monitoring sites
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.
Weather and soil moisture monitoring observations
Rainfall has been average to wetter over much of Victoria for the growing season (year to date, April to June) but Gippsland has been drier recording rainfall below decile 3.
June rainfall was average to above average across much of Victoria, while the Mallee and Gippsland were average to drier with some districts in those regions receiving less than 50mm. Areas receiving 50–100mm now have a solid foundation for winter, while totals above 100mm have filled soil profiles and, in some catchments, generated surface water and inflows to dams.
Speedo assessments
Soil moisture measurements displayed on the Agriculture Victoria dashboard.
Pasture sites
Most monitoring sites are dominated by perennial pasture species that will convert rainfall to plant growth and the South West sites have responded positively to June rainfall. soils have recharged with rainfall exceeding plant water requirements. Gippsland pasture sites are not yet fully wet, with probe locations still dry at depth.
Cropping sites
June rainfall was average to above average across much of Victoria, falling on soils primed for deep infiltration. This has generally replenished grain-growing districts that had lingering deep moisture deficits from the dry summer. The monitoring site at Gippsland (Giffard West) remains dry after below-average rainfall for 4 months and late autumn break.
In areas that received decile 10 rainfall in March, further decile 10 rainfall in June has caused waterlogging in low-lying areas in the North Central districts. Higher-elevation paddocks and free-draining soils have continued building deeper soil moisture reserves, supporting above-average crop yield potential.
Cropping regions are well ahead of the usual establishment and development schedule, with biomass levels reflecting above-average growth. If rainfall does not meet crop water requirements in late July and August, moisture reserves are likely to be used earlier than usual.
Soil moisture speedos 1 July 2026
Note – use extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring to activate your preferred reference monitoring location soil moisture percentage.
The extensionAus SMM dashboard map provides the option to select crop or grazing sites.
This is a map of all sites soil moisture percentages 1 July 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 July.
Mallee
Werrimull soil moisture (20–90 cm)
Pictured barley crop 23 March.
June rainfall in the Millewa was around average. Barley used some shallow soil moisture earlier in the month, which was replenished by rainfall in late June/early July.
The Ouyen soil moisture monitoring site is recording a full soil moisture profile, with Yield Prophet modelling also indicating a full soil water profile. Barley growing at this site is likely to make it one of the first monitoring points to draw down water reserves.
Full soil moisture profiles at both Speed and Normanville.
Wimmera
A 25% increase in soil moisture at Birchip for June, associated with decile 8-9 rainfall.
The Brim soil moisture monitoring site is showing a near-full soil moisture profile. Yield Prophet modelling indicates a full soil water profile to 70 cm, with small moisture deficits below this depth, consistent with observations at other district sites.
Deep soil moisture levels have continued to increase at the Wimmera sites of Sheep Hills and Taylors Lake. Compared with this time last year, they are 65% and 45% wetter, respectively.
The Minyip monitoring site shows deep water infiltration has continued to 80cm, building the soil profile to more than 75% full. Compared with this time last year, it is 50% wetter.
North Central
At Coonooer Bridge, south of Charlton, chemical fallow conditions and decile 10 June rainfall have driven strong infiltration to 1 metre and beyond, with low-lying areas becoming waterlogged.
The Raywood soil moisture monitoring site began the season with a near-full profile after 170 mm of rainfall in early March. The probe shows 100% soil water, and Yield Prophet modelling indicates a full profile beyond 100cm. Low-lying areas across the district are waterlogged from runoff from higher ground. The site is 60% wetter than at this time last year.
In the Mitiamo district on 3 July, decile 10 rainfall in March followed by decile 10 rainfall in June has caused waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Moisture probes and crop/soil moisture models both indicate strong deep soil moisture levels, with the Elmore probe showing 50% more moisture than at this time last year.
At Serpentine, overall soil moisture increased by 29% during June after starting the month at 71%. Moisture gains were all at depth, from 50 cm and below.
Northeast
For the Youanmite district, soil moisture probes, Yield Prophet modelling and the SoilWater app all indicate high soil moisture levels.
Caniambo is 80% wetter than at this time last year. Recent moisture improvements occurred at 40–60 cm in early June, with water infiltration reaching 70–90 cm by the end of the month.
Gippsland cropping
East Gippsland remains dry, with no change in soil moisture at the monitoring point over the past month and levels 55% lower than at this time last year. Monitoring site not in crop this year. Photo of pasture in Giffard/Woodside district.
South west
Hamilton has a full profile, increasing by a further 42% last month.
The Willaura site recorded a 40% improvement in soil moisture during June, with clear evidence of infiltration down to 100 cm.
The SoilWater app outputs show similar moisture improvements this growing season at the South West sites of Lake Bolac and Willaura. Conditions are tracking close to average for this time of year and are significantly better than at the same time last year, shown by the thin line.
Yalla-Y-Poora recorded a 60% improvement in soil moisture during June to fill up after starting the growing season at 20%.
Yield Prophet modelling indicates increasing soil moisture reserves at Yalla-Y-Poora. Similar to other Southwest sites, the soil water model shows a small remaining capacity to absorb more water deep in the soil profile.
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