Elders Bendigo agronomist Craig Sharam said falls would help restore soil moisture to dry cropping paddocks ahead of winter sowing in April and May.

"It's been pretty dry to date," he said.

"(Croppers) will take any amount of rain they can get; anything will be welcome to get that moisture in there."

Dryland lucerne crops would benefit most from the wet conditions, Mr Sharam said.

With the rain came a warning to farmers to stay on top of their weed burden.

"People just need to keep an eye on those summer weeds which can suck that moisture from the soil," he said.

Summer weeds provided a "green bridge" which could give insects and rusts an opportunity to carry over into winter crops, Mr Sharam said.

Bendigo stock and station agent Glenn Rea, McKean McGregor, said the early rain heralded what could be a record year for sheep graziers.

Monday's lamb sale saw prices up $10 to $15 per head on the previous week.

"A wet market always has a positive impact," Mr Rea said.

Numbers were slightly down, with about 17,000 lambs yarded.

Strong export demand from China and India led to a top price of $176 per head for good quality finished lambs.

Prices for mutton also experienced solid lifts.

"It might be a bold prediction but we could see those prices from 2009 and 2010 of over 200 cents," Mr Rea said.

He anticipated prices would continue to rise into February. 

Graziers would take confidence from the wet weather, Mr Rea said.

"A lot of people were carting water so hopefully they'll get run-off to fill those dams," he said.

The rain should spark lucerne growth, giving graziers the option to hold onto stock, should prices dip.  

A small yarding of cattle at yesterday's prime sale saw prices lift up to 15 cents liveweight, following a massive leap in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, up 39.25 cents carcase weight to reach 415.25 cents.

Victorian Farmers Federation Wedderburn branch president Graham Nesbit said falls of up to 40 millimetres had bouyed confidence in the region.

Run-off lifted levels of some dams in the area, providing respite for graziers forced to truck in water.

"That area that was severely affected (by dry weather) has narrowed," he said.

Mr Nesbit said farmers were grateful for any rain on offer.

"People have got an extra couple of weeks in the tanks and there's more money in mud than dust."