• 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: July rainfall for Victoria

July rainfall in cropping areas of southwest Victoria is average to below average. Other regions range from average to above average.

Figure 2. July rainfall

The Mallee had 25 - 50mm for July and the Wimmera received >50mm.

Figure 3. July rainfall percentages

Rainfall percentage charts indicate the Wimmera districts that were >150% for rainfall and have better moisture infiltration. The higher rainfall totals are still in the 50 - 100mm range for July.

Figure 4. June rainfall deciles

Rainfall deciles for the southwest were >8 during June. There were many districts with average deciles across the state.

Most districts could link the King’s Birthday weekend to the break and initiating true crop emergence.

Figure 5. June rainfall

Less than 25mm of rain in the northern Mallee and <50mm of rain in most parts of the Wimmera.

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.

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

All sites soil moisture percentages 31 July 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 made it a challenge to establish crops this season and data shows that early stages of crop development can have a major influence on final crop yield. Crop density should have been assessed.

The Crop Plant Density tool is a simple method to calculate crop oservations to numbers in the paddock.

The formula remains the same, whether calculating plants or tillers so the opportunity to understand the crop biomass can be identified by entering the tiller counts into the fields required.

Knowing plant numbers and the development of tillers can indicate some yield recovery from low plant establishment.

Find the crop density calculator on the soil moisture dashboard and save it to your smart phone home page to determine your crop biomass with some paddock counts. https://extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring/estimating-crop-plant-density/

Commissioned in autumn 2024 and currently being calibrated. Small evidence of moisture improvement at 20cm.

Reflects challenging conditions for crop establishment after <25mm for June and the first double digit rain event for 2025 occurring in July.

Moisture improvements at 30cm after warm and dry conditions resulted in the wheat crop starting to deplete moisture reserves during July.

This demonstrates yield potential with increasing biomass providing rainfall meets or exceeds plant water requirements during August and September.

Some soil moisture improvements at Speed down to 60cm with lentils growing.

Barley dry sown and emerged soon after the Anzac Day rain. Good yield potential and moisture improvements to 60cm to partially rebuild the moisture deficit generated in late May and June.

There has been good moisture improvement down to the 60cm depth sensor during July.
Note - fault in the sensor at 90cm.

There have been moisture improvements at the 50cm sensor. Deep moisture conditions remain dry, and crop will be reliant on late winter rainfall to boost soil moisture reserves.

Note, this paddock is sown to vetch, currently being grazed and end use options include hay or brown manure if biomass is not generated in late winter.

There have been moisture improvements at the 60cm sensor. Deep moisture conditions remain dry, and crop will be reliant on late winter rainfall to boost soil moisture reserves.

There have been good moisture improvements at the 50cm depth during July

There have been small moisture improvements at the 30cm depth during July.

Using the Soilwater app to simulate the moisture changes if you started the season with limited moisture reserves.

This could be the scenario after growing a cereal crop last season and limited harvest rain.

The model indicates 27% soil moisture and if August rainfall is average, there will be a high reliance on spring rainfall to meet crop water demands.

There have been good moisture improvements down to the 60 - 70cm depth during July using both the soil moisture probe data and modelled estimation.

There have been good moisture improvements at a depth of 50cm during July.

It’s a positive indicator to encourage root growth from crops that were able to establish in late April.

Crop growth and yield potential was promoted with application of nitrogen topdressing on canola and barley in June and wheat in early July.

Barley in wheat stubble at Raywood and showing good yield potential after the autumn break on 25 April.

There have been good soil moisture improvements down to 70cm depth during July.

Modelled soil moisture at Elmore with the Soilwater app compared to moisture probe data. Starting the growing season at 10%, the moisture is now at 60%.

Currently calibrating a new probe. Modelled soil moisture at Youanmite with the Soilwater app indicates a similar soil moisture effect with moisture improving over June and July.

There are varied seasonal conditions and soil moisture levels in the Giffard area.

The moisture probe indicates good deep moisture.

The soilwater app model indicates if canola was established early, its current growth and soil moisture use would be exceeding rainfall received in July.

There have been small moisture improvements at the 30 - 50cm depth during July and the water use of the canola at full cabbage is creating a small water deficit when rainfall doesn’t meet crop water requirements.

There have been moisture improvements at the 50 - 80cm zone during July. 

There have been moisture improvements down to a depth of 70cm during July and current total soil moisture is 60%.