Mayor Ray Kingston, who farms at Rupanyup, said people assumed that because farmers were talking up the season that the drought was over.

He said there were risks involved in that message.

“The money doesn’t start turning up for farmers until December or January, at best,” he said.

Cr Andrew McLean, who farms at Patchewollock, said during the hard times, farmers had done it tough.

“Things are looking good now, but the money isn’t in the bank yet and it won’t be until harvest,” he said. “Farmers still need to access support services.”

Cr McLean said Wimmera farmers would also struggle with commodity prices at harvest.

“Barley is down to $120 a tonne, which makes things fairly tight, even though crops are looking close to superb at the moment,” he said.

“We need to get through this period and hopefully the support systems allow farmers to get their harvest in.”

Cr Kylie Zanker attended a Sunraysia Rural Financial Counselling Service meeting earlier this month.

She said overall, farmers were more positive this year.

“Most of the assistance farmers are seeking at the moment is the household allowance and government concessional loans,” she said.

“Even though it has been a good year, farmers are still accessing those services,” she said.

“There is also more new and younger farmers accessing services, which is great for the viability of the industry in the future.”

Toolondo farmer Simon McKenry received more than 60mm of rain in a week earlier this month. He said the rain had filled dams, meaning no water carting during summer.

While there has been some water lying in paddocks, he said crop losses would be minimal.

“It’s confined to the odd low spot of the paddocks and the crop is advanced enough to cope with some water,” he said.