Springing back better

Shared at recent Springing Back Better workshops hosted by Agriculture Victoria and WestVic Dairy, these learnings reveal common themes among farmers who were able to hold pasture longer, respond earlier and recover more quickly.  

The workshop reflected on not just surviving difficult conditions, but on how key strategies build stronger, more resilient farm businesses. Here is a summary of the key management decisions that supported farm business resilience. 

1. Know your current position  

Good decisions start with good information. Take stock of where your business stands today, including feed reserves, cashflow, stock numbers, water availability and business finances. Regularly reviewing these figures makes it easier to identify risks and act early. 

2. Act early rather than react late 

Farmers who recovered well from the drought made key decisions before circumstances forced them to. Waiting and hoping often reduces options, increases stress and can cost both time and money. Early action creates flexibility and improves recovery prospects. 

3. Feed budgeting works 

The presenters reinforced the value of knowing what feed is on hand, what the farm can grow and what needs to be purchased. Effective feed budgeting helps avoid costly surprises and supports better stock and purchasing decisions. 

4. Protect your pasture base 

Pastures remain one of the farm's most valuable assets. Maintaining residuals, avoiding overgrazing and using sacrifice paddocks where appropriate can help preserve pasture performance and support faster recovery when conditions improve. 

5. Keep communication lines open 

Farmers who regularly communicated with family members, staff, advisors, suppliers and financiers were often better placed to navigate difficult decisions. Early conversations generally create more options and reduce pressure when challenges arise. 

6. Mental wellbeing matters 

The drought highlighted the importance of looking after yourself and those around you. Taking breaks, sharing concerns early, asking for help and maintaining support networks are all important parts of running a resilient farming business. 

7. Build plans, not just good intentions 

One of the strongest messages from the workshops was to get important decisions out of your head and onto paper. Written plans, priorities and agreed actions help turn ideas into progress and make it easier to review and adapt as conditions change. 

8. Recovery starts before the drought ends 

The farmers who recover fastest are often those who continue planning, monitoring performance and building feed reserves during better seasons. Resilience is built before the next challenge arrives. 

The key takeaway 

You do not need the perfect plan. You need the next honest plan, written down, shared with the right people and reviewed regularly. 

 

Springing Back Better workshops held in August 2026 were delivered by Agriculture Victoria and WestVic Dairy as part of the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBR) Program.
The FBR Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund.
For more information visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/FBRP