WIMMERA farmers are desperate for autumn rain after a dry summer.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts southern Victoria, which includes the Wimmera, has a 30 to 40 per cent chance of receiving above normal rain during autumn.
Victorian climate meteorologist Dr Harvey Stern said not much rain was expected because of a lack of moisture.
He said a drier than normal season was likely for the region.
"This is not unusual in autumn," he said.
"Rain in the Wimmera was a little above normal in February, while January was dry in the region."
Burnt Creek farmer Russell Peucker said summer had been one of his driest ever seasons.
"We only had three millimetres on Wednesday, which was really insignificant," he said.
"The stubble feed for the sheep has virtually gone, because of the early harvest it did not last long at all.
"We have absolutely no subsoil moisture, which is pretty much the same as everyone else.
"So any time from now on, if we could fluke a couple of good inches of rain, we have to start putting something into the bank for next year.
"Last year's rain was probably only about 300 millimetres, so to grow like we did on that amount of rain or less, was quite phenomenal."
Mr Peucker said he expected autumn to be dry and he would be feeding stock for quite a while from now on.
Wonwondah farmer Warrick Hallam said his farm received very little rain in January or February.
"It's probably the least rain we have ever had," he said.
"The dams are running very short of water and quite a few have been dry.
"Luckily the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline has been very handy."
Mr Hallam said one upside to little rain was the fact he had not had to do any spraying.
"No rain means no summer weeds," he said.
Mr Hallam said he did not mind if a good break took time to arrive.
"I don't mind if it's a little bit later to start, so long as when we get a good break it is a decent break," he said.
"Then things can jump out of the ground and keep on growing.
Mr Hallam said he hoped for decent rain in late April or early May.
Monthly rain for 2013 in the Wimmera included Hopetoun Airport, January 6.2mm, February 6.6mm; Ararat Prison, January 0.3mm - record low, February 30.8mm; and Edenhope Airport, January 0.6mm - record low, February 15.2mm.