Farming welfare payment extended by a year

The time limit on the Farm Household Allowance has been extended to four years from three after draft laws passed the Senate.

Federal government has extended its assistance to drought affected farmers by one year. (AAP)

Farmers doing it tough will be able to access a welfare payment for an extra year after legislation cleared parliament.

Primary producers on scorched farmland in drought-stricken areas of Australia will be able to access the Farm Household Allowance, which now has a four-year limit.

The bill extending the cumulative time someone can access the payment passed the Senate on Thursday, following Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's drought tour earlier in the month.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said he was hopeful the change would let farmers sleep easier.

"The government can't make it rain but we can give farmers the chance to plan and adjust, and put food on the table and diesel in the car," Mr Littleproud said.

He urged farmers not to self-assess whether they were eligible for the payment and visit a rural financial counsellor.

Labor supported extending the allowance, but has been critical of the government's approach to tackling drought.

Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon has described extending the allowance and an associated drought "round table" as a plan to kick the issue beyond the next election.