A wet start to September has given hope to those affected by two years of dry conditions with rainfall across the past week exceeding average totals.

Dairy industry bodies, farmers and processors have all said a good spring would be needed to help farmers through a poor milk price. 

Further rain is expected to keep the soil moist across the week and Field Services Agronomist Paul Smith says the long-term effects are good. 

“Rain at this time of the year is gold,” he said. “No one is complaining about the rain in the south-west.”

Mr Smith said the rainfall would push silage back about two-weeks.

“In the short-term it’s a bit annoying,” he said. “But everyone is hopeful… it should stay green right through to Christmas time.”

He said the weather would help farms operating in the low-milk price climate. 

Purnim farmer Roger Learmonth said the rain was setting farmers up for a good spring. 

“I think we’d all be extremely happy,” he said. “The days are getting longer and warmer so we can take plenty of rain this time of year.”

Mr Learmonth said he was looking forward to cutting hay this season, reducing fodder costs and helping the farm be self-sufficient. 

“It’s certainly going to make a good season,” he said.

“Over the last two years, we’ve had no good spring rainfall so we haven’t cut the quantity of hay we’d normally be cutting… We’re back to normal hay growth.” 

Wexford farmer Pete Fort said that it was “very wet” with rainfall pushing more than 50mm overnight on Friday. 

“It’s welcome spring rain,” he said. “While it doesn’t look pretty at the moment – with a lot of water laying around – we expect the ground water will go quickly because the grass is up and growing and will utilise it.”

WestVic Dairy research scientist Graeme Ward said the climate was improving as predicted with the progression of the Indian Ocean Dipole.

“It’s a good indication we’ll have an average spring,” he said.

“It’s setting up for a good season – providing we get follow-up rain.”

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stuart Coombs said another weather event at the end of the week would bring widespread rainfall of 20 to 30mm and localised 50mm of rainfall. 

“We’re looking at average to above average rainfall for the next couple of months,” he said. 

Agriculture Victoria seasonal climate specialist Dale Grey said for some farmers the rain was “absolutely essential”.

“Some crops were starting to show signs of stress because in the past couple of warm days, the roots haven’t been able to find enough soil moisture to keep those plants happy,” he said.