Exit funding worth up to $170,000 for farmers considered to have endured exceptional circumstances is no longer available to new applicants.

The Federal Government announced this week that the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) Exit Grants will be closed to all new applications as the program allocation of $9.6 million was fully committed for the 2011-2012 financial year.

Applications for the grant officially closed 10 August, according to a statement by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Claims made before this date will be assessed.

Exceptional circumstances were considered rare and severe events outside those that a farmer could normally be expected to manage using responsible farm management strategies.

The Exit Package, announced as part of the 2011-2012 Federal Budget, included a one-off exit grant of up to $150,000, an advice and training grant of up to $10,000 and a relocation grant of up to $10,000.

The government will continue to offer financial assistance through the Climate Change Adjustment Program and through Transitional Income Support, available to farmers in need of short-term income support to help recovery from drought.