Deniliquin and district received up to 60mm for the first two days of March, which is around 80 per cent of the rainfall received so far in 2026.
While it is a long way from the wettest March total from the last 28 years - which is still the 139.6mm in 2010 - the rain has been particularly important due to the context of the lack of rainfall in the last five months.
Elders Deniliquin senior agronomist Cameron Robinson said the downpour contributes to a positive outlook for farmers in the region.
“It is definitely a significant rain in the scheme of things,” he said.
“It is putting moisture into the profile and builds a bit of confidence with the current price of water.
“It will allow farmers to make positive decisions and for some regions it is a pre-watering event and in that aspect we’re more than happy for the rain to come.”
Mr Robinson said the great seasonal start will also allow farmers to be better positioned for the season ahead.
“Considering we’ve come through a pretty tough six months, the moisture break it has given is great.”
“Ideally, we’d like to see a follow-up rain within the next 10 days.
“But overall this should allow things to kick on and is really positive.
“For those who had water planned, it allows for more hectares to be available.
“Also, it allows the germination of quite a few weeds, and we don’t mind it to kill the weeds.
“Often the rain that comes is not enough to give long-term benefit, but we’re starting to see a green tinge come into the paddocks and that is positive for those winter crops.
“We’re starting to get dewy mornings and fingers crossed a bit more rain comes, but unfortunately, weather is one of the things you can’t control.”
Systems cropping consultant John Lacy said over Sunday and Monday, parts of the district reported up to 50mm of rain.
“Finley received 43mm, Blighty received 49.5mm, South Coree received 39mm, Jerilderie received 38mm and Berrigan received between 40mm and 43mm,” he reported after speaking with landholders.
The Deniliquin Pastoral Times has also received reports there had been rainfall between Conargo, Jerilderie and Coleambally of about 60mm.
Mr Lacy said the rainfall was “really important because they (producers) have had no fallow moisture”.
“We haven’t had significant rains for five months,” he said.
“The timing of this rain will allow weeds to grow on this moisture, so farmers can have a crack getting them out by doing a weed kill.
“Normally with rains during the fallow season, weeds grow, and they can then go in and spray them before planting.
“Before this rainfall, people were really stressing, but this will give farmers a lot more confidence.”
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