Australian Dairy Farmers is calling for the development of contingency plans to ensure that its farmers in the Murray Darling Basin have the best possible chance of gaining access to stock and domestic water for the 2008-09 season.

The Murray Darling Basin Commission recently confirmed that June inflows to the Murray Darling Basin are the lowest on record and the outlook for good winter and spring inflows is not good.

Irrigation allocation announcements for the Goulburn, Murray, Lower Darling and Murrumbidgee systems have further confirmed that without substantial falls in the next few weeks the ability of Victorian irrigation storages to deliver stock and domestic water for even short periods is under threat.

NSW Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lower Darling irrigators are beginning the season at 50pc stock and domestic water, with no guarantee that will continue for the full season.

ADF understands the importance governments place on ensuring essential human needs are met in rural towns, however it must also be a high priority to have water supplies available to meet the stock and domestic needs of rural properties.

ADF president, Allan Burgess, says these unprecedented times require unprecedented measures and careful planning and management.

"It is vital that contingency plans for provision of stock and domestic water are drawn up quickly to ensure dairy farmers can plan to maintain their cows which are critical to any recovery from such a devastating season," Mr Burgess said.

It is critical that industry is included in development of such contingency plans to ensure workable and practical solutions are achieved for dairy farmers in these exceptionally difficult times.