Mallee farmers have faced one of the driest autumns on record

Birchip Cropping Group senior research manager James Murray said the region only had very patchy rain in May.

"It's been a real battle to get crops up and going," he said.

"The last week of May into the first week of June we managed to get enough rain right throughout the district to get crops established.

"They're still not looking fantastic but they are up and going.

"It's certainly a late break compared to what we're used to in this environment."

Lighter soils were looking better than the heavier types, he said.

Low summer rainfall throughout most of the district, combined with a late start to the season and now cold conditions had meant crops were slow to get going, he said.

But growers in the Mallee had remained fairly positive despite the dry start.

"Particularly coming off two really good seasons, I think makes that concept a little easier," he said.

"There's a calm about where the seasons will head.

"We're not going to have a bumper crop by any stretch of the imagination and everyone's well and truly aware of that.

"It's somewhat about minimising costs and really putting resources into where they're required, as opposed to the last few years when it's been trying to maximise opportunities."

Sea Lake grower Nic Harrison said crops were only just starting to germinate.

"Pretty much everyone did nearly all of their cropping program dry," he said.

"I actually sowed some vetch in March and it's only just germinated last week.

"Normally you'd hope to get an autumn break in late March to mid April but this year it was the second week of June."

He was hopeful that there would be more rain in June and July.

"If that eventuates it could still end up a good season if we get a kind spring," he said.

"For things like canola and vetch, they're a bit disadvantaged now because they really like to get going when there's still a bit of warmth in the soil.

"Wheat and barley and lentils and things, they can still catch up."

Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Jonathan Pollock said the region had bucked the trend as many other areas experienced wetter than average conditions in autumn.

The Bureau classified an autumn break as around 25mm over about three days, meaning it had still not arrived in many areas, he said.

More rain is forecast for the Mallee this week and above average rainfall is forecast for July to September.