Decent rainfall is all that separates crop farmers at both ends of the region from what could be a good season, but rain continues to elude the area as crops enter critical growing stages.
While the situation is dire in the north of the state, crops in the region are drawing on subsoil moisture in order to survive as farmers hope for substantial rain to finish crops off and increase yields.
Friday's rain was the weather system many were hoping would bring enough rain to tide crops over until the end of the month, however only 2.2 millimetres fell in Stawell.
Stawell recorded 19.8mm (80pts) across 11 rainfall days in September. The average rainfall in Stawell for September is 58mm (233pts).
Last year saw 28.8mm (116pts) of rain recorded in September, with rain falling on 12 days of the month.
October 2007 was a dire month for the region, when a mere 6.4mm (24pts)was recorded over six rainfall days.
Trent Carter from Wallaloo Park, a merino stud and broadacre cropping property at Marnoo, said the area sat on the borderline on Friday.
``The crops are going exceptionally well for growing season rainfall figures,'' Mr Carter said.
``From Marnoo to Wallaloo and south, things are looking reasonable, but Marnoo is on the borderline.''
Hot winds over the last couple of weeks have battered the region's crops.
As conditions continue to deteriorate only a few kilometres north of Marnoo, farmers have begun cutting failed crops.
Despite the impending threat, Mr Carter said the morale of farmers in the Marnoo area was still generally positive, with many still hopeful of good returns riding on the back of volatile commodity prices.
Early moisture conservation, weed management and sowing dates, have played an important role in getting crops through the warmer, dryer months, with the possibility of good yields on the minds of many.
``Financial returns per hectare made 2007 one of the better years,'' Mr Carter said.
``Grain prices will tell the story this year.''
With the extended outlook predicting another band of rainfall in late October, Friday's five millimetres of rain at Marnoo provided a much needed boost to the limiting moisture reserves.
``We will take anything we can get at the moment, being only one decent rainfall off a good year,'' Mr Carter said.
Glenorchy farmer Howard Cooper echoed Mr Carter's comments, believing one decent rainfall would potentially result in a reasonable season.
``Five millimetres would get us through another week or 10 days, but we want at least 10 millimetres and 25 would be even better,'' Mr Cooper said.
``If we get another two inches of rain over the next month it'd be pretty good.''
Mr Cooper, who grows wheat, barley, canola, oats and some legumes on his property, said despite dismal rainfall figures, crops around the area were hanging in there.
Despite the dry conditions, Mr Cooper considered the area to be more fortunate than areas further north, where crops which started with plenty of promise have lost their potential.
Mr Cooper said stubble retention, direct drilling and minimum tillage methods have helped increase water retention levels in the soil, but the lack of rain meant subsoil moisture would be at a minimum.
Mr Cooper believed farmers in the Glenorchy region the Glenorchy were starting to get anxious about the weather.
``It's disappointing when you see a change like (Friday's) come up and you only receive enough rain to wet the road and dampen the grass,'' Mr Cooper said.
Despite the seemingly bleak outlook for rain, Mr Cooper remains hopeful of a positive end to the season.
``If it rains we still have some reasonably good potential,'' Mr Cooper said.
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