The Bureau of Meteorology recorded varied falls across the region, with Rushworth gauges registering the highest totals at 23 millimetres over Sunday May 3 and Monday May 4.
Shepparton recorded 11.8mm across the two days, while nearby Mooroopna received 14mm.
Tatura recorded 17.4mm, Echuca 16.1mm and Kyabram 13.2mm.
Jake Thompson, a cropping farmer just north of Kyabram, grows wheat, barley, canola and oats.
Mr Thompson said while the rain was timely, financial pressures remained high for growers.
“It’s costly ... money is running out the gate at the moment,” he said.
“A good drop is always welcome in May, it means the moisture will hang around.”
Mr Thompson said his on‑farm rain gauges recorded 14mm on Sunday.
Advanced Ag agronomist Tim Anderson said the rainfall, combined with forecast cooler conditions, was positive for the region’s cropping outlook.
Mr Anderson said the moisture would assist canola crops to germinate and provide a solid foundation for early wheat plantings.
Advanced Ag director Tony Kelly, who has been an agronomist for several decades, said rainfall events often gave farmers a short‑term reprieve, but follow‑up rain was critical to strengthening the season.
“Rain can give growers a bit of a get‑out‑of‑jail‑free card early, but you need more to lock the season in,” Mr Kelly said.
He said sustained rain would push farmers to increase fertiliser applications, driving higher demand.
“If it starts raining properly, we’ll see a huge urea shortage,” Mr Kelly said.
Urea prices are already sitting at about $1400 a tonne and could climb further if demand surges.
Higher yields require greater fertiliser inputs as farmers chase to make their crops profitable.
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Kelly said growers remained resilient.
“Farmers are very good at hanging on,” he said.
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