RAINFALL across the Wangaratta district in the first half of May has been described as "lifesaving" for farmers.
The 25.4mm which the Bureau of Meteorology said has already fallen this month has brought great relief to farmers who have been digging in deep to feed supplies.
Lake Rowan farmer Mick Griffin had sown 300 hectares of canola and the same of wheat, but said plants had only been germinating in patches.
He was staring down the barrel of major parts of his crops not germinating at all before 18mm of rain came this week.
"It has been more than ideal, it has been lifesaving," Mr Griffin said.
"It was getting really desperate out here with no subsoil moisture to speak of and this rain should germinate the seed right across my crops."
He also has 1000 merino ewes and 400 crossbred ewes he has been struggling to keep fed.
But the window for more pasture to grow is closing with ground temperatures getting colder nearing the onset of winter.
He has been weaning his lambs off ewes early to combat the dry conditions.
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