HELPING struggling farmers leave the land should not be a central part of future drought policy, Victoria's top farm leader says.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Andrew Broad said the focus should be on early financial advice for farmers who were not viable in the long term.

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"If farmers hit by prolonged drought aren't basically viable, you need to make an early call rather than wait until they're in serious financial trouble before they get help," Mr Broad said.

"Future policy should be more focused on helping viable farmers get through drought."

His comments come as farmers anxiously await details of changes to the Exceptional Circumstances scheme.

Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says he wants more emphasis on preparedness.

"We will not change drought support arrangements for farmers currently receiving assistance in areas that continue to be EC-declared," he said.

But farm leaders insist welfare support must be kept under the new scheme and are concerned about funding cuts.

In the second half of last year, about $15.3 million a week was spent on EC income support and interest rate subsidies.

New figures show only 222 farmers, including 98 in Victoria, have received EC exit grants since they were introduced as part of the EC scheme in late 2007.

Farmers can get $150,000 if their net assets are less than $350,000, and lower amounts up to $575,000.

Mr Broad said the assets test was so tough that farmers had to run down their farm assets to ridiculous levels to qualify.

"Governments shouldn't be helping farmers leave the land because they've gone broke."

Mildura Rural City Council mayor Glenn Milne said the exit grant was barely adequate for farmers after they paid tax on the grant and exit fees for their water.

"Then what is the option for them? $100,000 left over with four kids might be just enough to survive for two years," Cr Milne said.

"They have to re-train and find a job, but there are fewer jobs here now due to the drop in wine production."

Cr Milne said 50-75 per cent of some areas around Red Cliffs and Merbein had been dried off.

"It's devastating for the district," he said.

"The Government needs to re-think how they support farming. This wouldn't happen in the US. They get paid to farm."