Demand for water from the Murray-Darling Basin is the highest it has ever been at this time of year.
Phil Grahame, a water trader in Victoria's north-west, says the lack of rain and easy access to water allocations is driving the trend.
He says most irrigators have used record amounts of water this season.
"The feedback we're getting from a large amount of permanent planting people is they've used far more water this year than they ever have."