After more than a decade of dry winters, this June has brought average rainfall to the Border and increased optimism for winter crops.

The wet start to winter has been accompanied by mild temperatures, the average overnight low up more than one degree on a normal winter.

That has helped pasture and crop growth, say agronomists.

For the second time in the past three months, rainfall tallies have equalled or exceeded long-time averages.

Seventeen of the past 30 days have delivered rain to the Border, with 79.6mm recorded at Albury airport for June.

In April 85mm fell, nearly double the monthly average.

Agronomist Tim Paramore said farmers were stunned the rain keeps on coming.

“It has been fantastic for crops and pasture,” he said.

“The mild winter has also meant there has been pasture growth and the rain has the crops well out of the ground.”

Gerogery grain producer Evan Moll said it was like the old days.

He has planted cereals, pulses and clover seed on his 400ha farm this season.

““This is a normal type of winter, like we used to have,” he said.

“We have put stock on the crops and that has filled in the feed gap.”