"There is no sub-soil moisture," Mr Sewell said.

"We have been doing some fencing and there is very little moisture."

Like many farmers living off the land, Mr Sewell has been intently looking skyward for more rain to help boost water storages.

Despite appearances, rain last week and over winter has failed to dramatically improve the situation and many farmers look like facing another hot and dry summer.

Perceptions that winter rain has helped to boost the fortunes of farmers are incorrect.

Mr Sewell has two dams, one is full because it's fed from a running creek, the other is little more than a dust bowl with three large puddles.

"Compared to last year the crops are looking better.

"They are further advanced but the only thing that would be different is there is less water in storage," Mr Sewell said.

"It's a better year from my point of view at the moment than what it was last year, but I'm only talking from a feed point of view.

"Everyone is in the same situation. Everyone is happy we have got the last bit of rain... to bring on the crops.

"There is quite a few people that grow grass seed and cereal around here and they would certainly be hoping for the rain to continue."

Last year the lack of rain forced Mr Sewell, like many others in the district, to make hard decisions.

"We sold cows, but we didn't have to buy in feed. We didn't sell any lucerne or anything like we usually would," he said.

"We would only be breaking even. I doubt there would be many people saying they are going to make a profit I think most people would be happy just to break even."