FARMERS to the west of Inglewood are carting in water up to four months earlier than expected, costing some more than $300 per week.
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The lack of rainfall from July onwards has hit the cropping region from Wedderburn to Beulah hard, with little lasting rain expected until well into 2015.
Tony Holt, who farms wheat, barley and sheep to the south of Wedderburn, said he had started bringing 10,000 litres of water onto his farm up to six times per week.
Each delivery of 10,000 litres costs about $50.
"People were carting water in October. That's extremely early, normally you don't see that for at least another four months," Mr Holt said.
"The main disappointment has been the lack of run off to fill our dams. There hasn't been enough rain for our natural catchment."
He said his farm would survive the dry, as harvests were not typically lost in the Wedderburn region.
Further west at Birchip, farmers say they will struggle to recoup input costs as low yields from the 2014 harvest season take their toll.
David Ferrier, who farms 20 kilometres north of Birchip, said the poor season would have financial implications for farmers.
"Getting back into crops for next year will be hard for many," he said.
"The issue is going to be finding finance after the good start to the year. It created a high input, low yield season."
The lack of rainfall also combined with high levels of frost, impacting the quality of harvest.
Steady grain prices have helped those who achieved up to one tonne per hectare to recoup losses.
The Bureau of Meteorology has previously forecast a drier than usual six month period to autumn next year.
The state and federal governments reached an agreement on Wednesday to make $30 million in drought concessional loans available to Victorian farmers.
The five-year loans will fund 50 per cent of farm business debt up to $1 million at a four per cent interest rate.