Under the plan, irrigators with at least 10 megalitres who own 15 hectares or less will qualify for special exit payments of up to $150,000.

Small farmers will also be able to gain grants of up to $10,000 for advice and training and a maxiumum of $10,000 to help them remove permanent plantings and other infrastructure.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the scheme would allow eligible small irrigators affected by drought and climate change to quit farming while remaining on their blocks.

* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, September 25 issue.