However the officials, from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, warned that some areas remained extremely dry and that grain growers were still awaiting sufficient moisture.

The New South Wales state government remained cautious, saying that 88% of the state was still officially drought-stricken, and only 18% of winter crops had been planted as farmers waited for better conditions.

Some inland regions have had drought for three years and some cities at one stage introduced water restrictions.