A forecast of up to 50mm of late season rain could be just what’s needed to prompt grain fill and boost yield estimates for embattled farmers in northern NSW.

While forecasts have been divided between north and south, a late season in the New England and above meant crops were behind and still in need of rain.

Hope has arrived at the 11th hour with rain arriving to provide a boost before it’s too late.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s eight-day outlook shows the heaviest falls are expected in northern NSW and southern Queensland with up to 50mm, while Victoria and southern NSW are likely to receive up to 5mm.

NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon farms at Moree and said 10mm at the weekend was welcome and any follow-up would be quickly used by crops still trying to finish.

“Our crops are about two to three weeks off harvest, they are still a bit green and more rain would be welcome to help fill the heads,” she said.

Mrs Reardon said it had been a very ordinary year for farmers in northern NSW and growers had to push back planting due to the late seasonal break. “It is possible we could be seeing crops of less than 2 tonnes a hectare,” she said.

BoM figures show the seven-day falls were patchy with 16mm at Moree, 12.4mm at Narrabri and 4.2mm at Dubbo.

Tamworth farmer Ian Coxhead said the forecast rain would be a major help after a dry few weeks, to improve grainfill and relief for pastures and late-sown oat and fodder crops.

“We are expecting some good rain and we need it,” Mr Coxhead said.

“It has been very dry in the past three weeks … this rain that is due now would be a great help to all of those crops that aren’t quite finished off.”

Further south at Dirnaseer, Derek Ingold’s property received 20mm to 30mm on Monday night.

“It just came through in a broad band and has really helped the crops, but there are areas near here that didn’t get that much,” he said.

“It was a bit of a surprise, and we will take it.

“Our wheat was ticking over all right but it was starting to suffer in the last few days.

Mr Ingold said the falls and cooler weather should help protect yield and grain quality as crops finish.