The falls since Saturday have already put a spring in the step of the farmers, according to Temora Shire councillor Nigel Judd.

Cr Judd, from Ariah Park, has recorded about 25 millimetres of rain since the weekend, with neighbouring districts receiving even more.

"I think the attitude has changed a bit already," he said.

"People are starting to put in orders for seed and spray, and make plans. They're more positive than in months.

"It looks promising. We can see moisture moving around Australia for the first time in months."

In the week ending at 9am on Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology recorded 14 millimetres of rain at Wagga.

There was 50mm in the same period at Temora, 48mm at Young, 32mm at Cootamundra and 55mm at Gundagai.

Griffith has recorded 71mm in the past week, with 64mm at Tumut and 36mm at Tumbarumba.

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Coolamon mayor John Seymour, whose property is between Coolamon and Marrar, has recorded 71mm in recent days.

Cr Seymour said the rainfall "puts a bit of confidence back" into the farming community.

"There's hope this is the beginning of the end of the drought," he said.

"It will be a long time before the effects of the drought go away. But this rain does put a smile on your face."

Nigel Smedley, from the Wagga office of the Bureau of Meteorology, said the latest forecast was for average autumn rainfall, although temperatures were expected to be a little above the norm.

The widespread rain has helped lifted the spirits of some drought and bushfire-stricken farming communities in NSW, but the financial benefits will not flow for many months, the NSW Farmers' Association has warned.

President James Jackson said many farmers have dusted off their gumboots and good rainfall in the north of the state has filled dams and boosted soil moisture levels. But, across NSW, the falls have been patchy.

"It's been a huge relief for many livestock producers who have been feeding out every day and the psychological boost that this rain has provided is vitally important," Mr Jackson said.

Scott Wallace, the season conditions coordinator with the Department of Primary Industries, said while the rain had been welcomed where it had fallen, it had been uneven and some parts of the state had missed out entirely.

He said for those areas where rain had fallen, follow-up falls were needed.