Landmark Timboon agronomist James O’Brien said the rain was a positive event for south-west dairy and livestock producers.

“It’s very timely. It’s just the right amount to keep the grass growing and help summer crops to grow well,” Mr O’Brien said.

He said the rain was “gold” for summer crops such as turnips, maize and sorghum that were grown throughout the region.

Further north, the impact was not so favourable.

David Levy from Kellys Merchandise at Dunkeld said the rain had stopped the canola harvest which “had been going flat out”.

He said the rain could cause some cereal crops to sprout in the crop heads, prior to their imminent harvest. Sprouting in the crop heads reduces their quality.

The amount of rain that crops received would determine their likelihood of sprouting, Mr Levy said.

Cereal crops in the region’s northern areas are usually harvested in January or February.

Country Fire Authority District Five duty officer Richard Bourke said the south-west had received “nowhere near” the rainfalls that other parts of the state had received.

“It’s not out of the ordinary rain,” Mr Bourke said.

He doubted the summer rain would have any serious long-term implications on the fire season.

“I do not see it causing prolific growth,” Mr Bourke said.

Pastures on most south-west farms had already been eaten low by livestock or the grass was at seed-producing stage.

The only growth in pastures and crops was likely to be where there was regrowth after farmers had cut earlier growth for hay.

That regrowth was likely to be green and not very flammable, Mr Bourke said. 

He expected the rain would give the CFA a quiet start to the 2018-19 fire season.

This time last year District Five had already experienced two major fires at Balmoral and Mooralla, north of Hamilton, Mr Bourke said.