Australia has always been a dry continent, and most producers don’t need reminding that rainfall is becoming more erratic. What is changing fast is the range of crop and pasture options that can stay productive on less water, backed by serious local research and breeding work from GRDC, CSIRO and the state departments.
This guide walks through 10 drought-resistant crops and pasture species that are worth a serious look in Australian systems. It’s not a list of silver bullets, every farm still needs a mix that suits its soil, rainfall and markets, but it should help you frame better conversations with your agronomist, seed supplier, or the seller you’re talking to on LocalAg.
What actually makes a crop “drought-resistant”?
When people talk about drought-resistant crops, they usually mean species or varieties that can:
- Use water efficiently – turning each millimetre of stored soil moisture into grain or feed instead of leaf “waste”.
- Reach deeper moisture – via deeper or denser root systems (for example, lucerne and chickpea).
- Handle heat at critical stages – flowering and grain fill are especially sensitive to heat and water stress in wheat, barley, canola and pulses.
- Recover quickly after rain – some summer forages like sorghum and millet can sit tight in dry spells then jump when storms arrive.
With that in mind, here are 10 options that have a genuine track record or strong research backing under Australian conditions.
1. Sorghum
Sorghum is one of the best known drought-tolerant summer crops in Australia. GRDC calls it a “climate-resilient and drought-tolerant crop ideally suited to Australia’s hot, dry conditions”.
Where it fits
- Suits summer-dominant rainfall zones in QLD and northern NSW, and dryland systems where in-crop rainfall is unreliable.
- Grown for grain (human food, stockfeed, ethanol) or forage (grazing, silage, hay).
Why consider it
- Strong performance on light to medium soils with 400–700 mm annual rainfall.
- Handles short dry spells and heat waves better than maize, and can bounce back quickly after storms.
- Works well in rotation with winter cereals and chickpeas to spread risk.
2. Millet (forage and native millets)
Millets are gaining renewed attention as hard-wearing summer forages and niche grains. Forage millet is promoted specifically for heat and drought tolerance, thriving in harsh, dry Australian conditions.
NSW DPI also highlights native millet (Panicum decompositum) as both drought- and flooding-tolerant, suited to grazing in drier environments.
Where it fits
- Summer forages in northern and central Australia, and as a short-term feed option when other pastures have browned off.
- Native millet can play a role in regenerative grazing systems on lighter soils.
Why consider it
- Flexible sowing window and quick growth for opportunistic feed after storms.
- Options range from forage-type millets through to grain-type pearl millets, which some Australian suppliers describe as among the most drought-resistant summer grain crops.
3. Chickpea
Chickpea is now a mainstream crop across much of the wheat–sheep belt and is widely recognised as one of the more drought-tolerant pulses. Australian work on cool-season pulses notes that chickpea is considered the most drought-tolerant cool-season pulse, thanks to its deep taproot.
Where it fits
- Suits medium to lower rainfall areas across QLD, NSW, SA and WA in rotation with cereals and canola.
- Performs best on well-drained, neutral to alkaline soils.
Why consider it
- Strong option where you want a break crop that can still finish a season under terminal drought.
- Contributes nitrogen to the system and fits well with herbicide rotation.
- Good domestic and export markets, though disease and market risk need managing carefully.
4. Lentil
In Victoria and South Australia, lentil has become the most commonly grown grain legume. Agriculture Victoria links that popularity directly to lentil’s drought tolerance and marketability.
Where it fits
- Best suited to low to medium rainfall Mallee and Wimmera-type environments with well-drained, neutral to alkaline soils.
- Typically grown as a high-value break crop in intensive cereal systems.
Why consider it
- Handles dry finishes better than many other pulses, provided sowing time and variety are well matched.
- Strong price signals in many seasons, plus rotational benefits (nitrogen, disease break).
- Current research is specifically focused on improving drought and heat tolerance in Australian lentil varieties, so expect further gains.
5. Lupins
Australian sweet lupins are often described as “water-wise” crops that use water sparingly and suit dryland farming in regions with limited rainfall.
Where it fits
- Narrow-leaf lupin is a cornerstone crop on deep, sandy acidic soils in WA, with expanding interest in SA and Victoria.
- Plays a major role in grain and livestock systems as both grain and on-farm protein source.
Why consider it
- Reasonable drought tolerance, particularly in low–medium rainfall environments, while fixing nitrogen for following crops.
- Helps reduce reliance on synthetic fertiliser and can lower the carbon footprint of crop sequences when used instead of canola in some rotations.
6. Barley and triticale
Barley and triticale are often more forgiving than wheat on lighter or more marginal soils. Australian research on barley has identified drought-tolerant traits from wild relatives that can improve elite cultivars.
Triticale – the wheat × rye hybrid – has long been used as a tough feed grain capable of handling poorer soils and erratic rainfall, including in drought-tolerant beer grain trials using triticale in Australia.
Where they fit
- Barley: mixed farming zones where there’s a demand for malting, feed or hay, and you want a cereal that can handle stress a little better than wheat.
- Triticale: grazing plus grain systems, sandy or acidic soils, or where feed security is a priority.
Why consider them
- Many growers already see barley as a “safer” cereal in a dry start or tough finish, and triticale adds extra flexibility for grazing and feed.
- Good options to pair with drought-tolerant pulses in a wider rotation.
7. Drought-tolerant wheat varieties
Wheat isn’t usually the first crop people think of when they hear “drought-resistant”, but Australian breeders and CSIRO are changing that. Long-coleoptile wheat lines are being released to allow deeper sowing into stored moisture, giving crops a better start in dry seasons.
Field research is also teasing apart drought tolerance at different growth stages, helping identify lines that hang on better through reproductive stress.
Where it fits
- Everywhere wheat already fits – but with an emphasis on strategic variety choice for low and variable rainfall zones.
- Western Australia is a good example where wheat yields have risen despite a long-term decline in growing-season rainfall, thanks in part to new varieties and improved management.
Why consider it
- You don’t have to drop wheat to improve drought resilience – you may just need a different mix of maturities and coleoptile types, and more conservative sowing strategies.
- Drought-tolerant wheat gives more flexibility in what you plant on limited soil moisture.
8. Lucerne (alfalfa)
Lucerne is often called the “king” of drought-tolerant pasture legumes in southern Australia. NSW DPI and EverGraze describe lucerne as the most drought-tolerant perennial legume, with a deep taproot that can dry out soil profiles to depth and access water long after annual pastures have browned off.
Where it fits
- Well-drained, slightly acidic to alkaline soils in the 375–700 mm rainfall band in southern NSW, Victoria, SA and WA.
- As pure lucerne stands for hay, or in mixed pastures with grasses and clovers.
Why consider it
- Provides high-quality feed from spring through summer and into autumn when other pastures are struggling.
- Deep roots and high water-use efficiency make lucerne one of the best tools for summer feed during drought and for lowering watertables in some landscapes.
9. Buffel grass
Buffel grass is widely used in central and northern Australia as a hardy, productive pasture grass. Varieties such as Gayndah and USA buffel are described as “extremely drought tolerant”, with proven performance on light to medium soil types and a 300–900 mm rainfall range.
Where it fits
- Beef and sheep systems in Queensland, the NT and northern WA, particularly on lighter soils.
- As a permanent, summer-active pasture for backgrounding, breeding or dry-season maintenance.
Why consider it
- Strong persistence under intermittent grazing and long dry spells, provided establishment is done well.
- Can form the backbone of a drought-resilient grazing system when managed carefully (especially around fire and biodiversity considerations).
10. Temperate drought-hardy pasture grasses (tall fescue, phalaris and others)
In cooler, higher rainfall zones, some temperate grasses offer better drought tolerance than perennial ryegrass. Victorian and SA resources highlight:
- Tall fescue – closely related to ryegrass but more drought tolerant, extending the period of high-value feed later into the season.
- Phalaris – a persistent perennial grass that remains productive in tough years, though it needs careful management on some soils.
Where they fit
- Higher rainfall mixed farming and dairy regions where ryegrass-dominant pastures brown off too quickly in late spring or summer.
- Often sown in mixes with legumes (including lucerne or clovers) to balance feed quality and persistence.
Why consider them
- Better summer survival than ryegrass under many conditions, giving a more stable feed base in short dry spells.
- When combined with lucerne or summer-active clovers, they can contribute meaningfully to a drought-resilient pasture system rather than relying on annuals alone.
Pulling it together on your farm
A few practical points before you rush to order seed:
- Think system, not single crop. The most drought-resilient farms typically use a mix of cereals, pulses and perennials rather than betting everything on one “tough” species.
- Match crop to soil and rainfall. A species that shines at 450 mm on a deep loam may disappoint at 325 mm on shallow gravel – and vice versa.
- Choose locally proven varieties. Always lean on local trial data, agronomist advice and regional sowing guides (GRDC, DPI, PIRSA, DPIRD, etc.) for specific varieties and sowing windows
Use markets to your advantage. Drought-tolerant crops still need a home – whether that’s a grain buyer, livestock on your own farm, or buyers and sellers you connect with through LocalAg.
