THE bad season in north west regions has been indiscriminate, targeting some districts while others survived with strong yields.
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The Manangatang-Robinvale train line provided an example of the fickle nature of the weather, particularly in the township of Quambatook.
Those living to the north of the train line often received strong harvests, while those to the south struggled with little rain and heavy frost.
The town of 300 people, about 50 kilometres north west of Boort, is at the heart of one of Victoria's largest cropping regions.
Grains farmer Leo Parker, who lives 10 kilometres south of Quambatook, said the difference between the districts north and south of the town was noticeable.
"Things have been very good between Quambatook and Swan Hill, and average to above average between the town and Kerang," he said.
"To the south, we've probably had about half the annual rainfall.
"We seem to be right on the edge of it."
The further south of the train line, the less rainfall the regions received.
Across to Wycheproof and down to Charlton, yields were greatly impacted.
A majority of farmers abandoned harvest and instead opened their crops up to grazing towards the end of the year.
Mr Parker, who has farmed his property for 50 years, said the traditional rain from the west never arrived.
"It was quite unusual," he said.
"Usually the rain comes in from the west, but it all seemed to come down from the north, from New South Wales.
"We were right on the edge of it and it seemed to move south."
The harder subsoil to the west of Quambatook meant increased rainfall was required for strong growth.
A staff member at North West Ag Services in Quambatook also said the difference between the north and south of the town was noticeable.
He said the town itself had done reasonably well during the winter and spring, and looked "nice and green".
Most in the region had finished harvest, as it continued to move westward across the state.
Mr Parker said while the season "wasn't anything he hadn't seen before", it was still going to be a tough 12 months for a lot of farmers in the region.
"It costs so, so much to plant crops these days, so if you don't get good returns then it really makes things hard," he said.
"We would probably be lucky to recoup 50 per cent of our costs."