Horsham had 11 millimetres for the week to 9am yesterday, Warracknabeal had 10 millimetres, while Nhill and Dimboola both received eight millimetres.

Further north Hopetoun had five millimetres, while in the west Goroke had one millimetre.

Department of Primary Industries agronomist Chris Sounness said the rain had varying benefits but extreme heat was the major concern at this time of year.

"If you go further south the rain will all be of benefit but up north near Ouyen where harvest has started it won't make a lot of difference," he said. "I think as long as we don't get any extreme heat or extreme rain growers will be looking forward to getting into harvest."

Vectis farmer Vaughn Maroske said his crops has responded well so far.

"I'm concerned about it getting too warm if we don't get more rain though," he said. "The growing season rainfall has been shocking so we wouldn't be a good position without the subsoil moisture from summer rains."

Warracknabeal farmer Shannon Byron said the district had been lucky to get rain at the right times.

"Things are looking good but you don't have to go far to see crops under stress," he said.

"It's only really in the past week and a half that the weather has started to put pressure on with heat stress.

"It would be a shame now if we have really hot weather and no rain.

"We are hoping for another mild month to give the crops every opportunity to fill."

Nhill farmer Andrew Colbert said farmers in the area were always looking for rain in the third week of October.

"We haven't had rain for two or three weeks, but there is a more than even chance we will get an inch of rain in this area during the next week," he said.

"The early sown and summer sprayed crops are holding up surprisingly well. The barley is looking particularly good and the canola has lost a bit of yield.

"For the past 10 to 12 years we have started harvest in the second week of November and we are on track to start then this year."

Speed farmer Phil Down said the district had no rain at all last week.

"Our last rain was about two and a half weeks ago and that kept the crops going, but in among that was some hail which did some damage in isolated areas," he said.

"Some farmers around Ouyen have started harvesting canola and barley in the past few days. In Speed we are still a couple of weeks away.''