THE earliest autumn break for decades has well and truly arrived in southeast Australia, according to farm leaders.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Andrew Broad said it was beyond doubt the weekend's torrential rain had delivered the break to southern NSW and most of Victoria.

"Technically it's autumn and in Victoria we've had 2-3 inches (50-76mm) - if this isn't the autumn break, what is?" Mr Broad said.

Birchip Cropping Group chairman Ian McClelland was also adamant the break had arrived.

"Obviously you can have a false break and suddenly have dry periods but I'm confident enough to say it is the break," Mr McClelland said.

"We are on sandy soil here (at Birchip) and we have had 1 1/2 inches (38mm) of rain - it's the break."

The heavy rain that fell in almost every part of Victoria and the Riverina at the weekend has seen confidence in livestock markets surge, helping to push cattle prices up to an 18-month high.

Mallee Sustainable Farming chairman Jim Maynard said the break was "absolutely" beyond doubt.

"I live in NSW right on the border, 30km east of Mildura, and it's one of the best breaks for 20 years or more," Mr Maynard said.

"I just travelled to Griffith through Balranald and Hay and I have never seen that area look better for this time of year."

Mr McClelland said it was the earliest genuine break in the southern Mallee since 1999, while in many other parts of Victoria, farmers say it is the earliest since 1989.

However, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Blake said the break was "not a certainty whatsoever".

"I don't think you can be confident of saying that - we are looking at quite a dry period following this," Mr Blake said.

"To say it's the autumn break is a bit ambitious."

Horsham Department of Primary Industries agronomist Chris Sounness also said it was too early to call.

"The break is always easier to judge in hindsight," Mr Sounness said.

"It's great rain and it sets the season up, but does it mean we are going to get rain through winter and spring? I don't know."

Cobram DPI agronomist Dale Grey said most parts of Victoria and southern NSW had received enough rain to qualify as the break.

"But if it doesn't rain from now on, it will be a false break," Mr Grey said.

Tatura DPI dairy extension officer Tom Farran also cautioned against assuming the break had arrived.

"Going back through historical records, March breaks are not very common around here," Mr Farran said.

Murray McKenzie, of Lurg, near Benalla, was happy to call it the break after he recorded 51mm at the weekend.

John Bennett, of Everton in Victoria's North East, also said the break had arrived, after receiving 53mm.

Andrew Broad conceded hot weather could follow the weekend's rain.

"But you will be surprised about how much pasture growth will come out of this rain because the soil temperature is so high," Mr Broad said.

Key water storages have not risen substantially as a result of the weekend's storms.

Goulburn Murray Water regulated systems manager Mark Bailey said Eildon inflows began receding after peaking at 7300 megalitres a day on Monday morning.

But Mr Bailey said if good follow-up rain occurred, inflows would be higher because catchment soil profiles were so wet.

Victoria's storages are also at much healthier levels than a year ago.

Eildon is at 26.9 per cent of capacity compared to 15.4 per cent this time last year.

Dartmouth is 30.7 per cent full, compared to 22.1 per cent a year ago, while Hume is at 17.1 per cent, up from 9.1 per cent.

Cattle producers are expected to hold on to more livestock as a result of the rain, helping to push prices up further.