Just over 40mm was recorded for the Sunday and the long, steady falls have provided a welcome boost to sown crops and according to Young district agronomist, Paul Parker, it’s the best autumn break he can recall since 1994.

“It’s certainly been a help, to the ones that have been sown and the ones that will be,” said Mr Parker.

“It’s made conditions ideal for sowing and we’ve got enough moisture now to get things started,” he said.

Farmers are now busily trying to control any weed outbreaks in an effort to conserve moisture and nutrients but are facing a hard task with strong winds making conditions difficult.

“What we’d like to see now is some calm weather, no wind, so they can get their spraying done and then some rain,” Mr Parker said.

He added the ongoing concern for farmers now was the continued low prices grains were fetching at market, in particular wheat and barley.

With many farmers having stored last season’s crop in the hope of prices increasing, in some cases they are now facing the prolonged cost of storage as well as the rising price of fertilisers.