Farmers have been warned last week's welcome rainfall was far from enough to break the drought.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A Department of Primary Industries spokesman said it was likely the 71 millimetres of rain which fell in Orange over three days and exceeded the average March rainfall of 66.4 mm, was a "false break" from the drought.
"The current rainfall is a welcome sight for farmers across the region, however it is not enough to break the drought," he said.
"Farmers need to be able to capitalise on the boost in resources now available on the ground, but hedge against the likelihood of this being a false break from a prolonged drought event."
He said farmers needed to have an accurate estimate of their resources as they headed into an autumn and winter where drought-breaking rain has not been forecast.
That included knowing their feed budgets, stored soil moisture, stock numbers and condition, pregnancy testing, supplements and maintenance feed stores and pasture cover levels.
"Recovery of the resource base, rainfall, soil water and pasture-crops, takes place over a season or more," he said.
"Production and financial recovery takes much longer.
It is not enough to break the drought.
- DPI spokesman
"The key will be making sure decisions are informed by good resource estimates and there is a hedge against a false break given a farmer's appetite for risk."
The Bureau of Meteorology has provided a "neutral" forecast for the next few months which said there was an equal chance of above and below median rainfall.
Next week is forecast to be sunny with little chance of any rain before next Saturday when there is a 40 per cent chance of rain and possibly a thunderstorm.
The DPI is maintaining a 'watch and monitor' status for the drought.
NSW Farmers president James Jackson said it would be several months before the financial benefits of good rainfall could be felt by farmers.
He said widespread rainfall last month had helped farmers on the north coast of NSW but it had been patchy for farmers in the Central West.
"Some farms have had no blessing at all," he said.
Mr Jackson said rainfall provided a "psychological boost" for farmers.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...