THE drought isn't over - that's the long and short of it.

In its latest drought statement released last week, the Bureau of Meteorology said above average February rain had removed most of southeast Australia's short-term "rainfall deficiencies".

But despite some media reports to the contrary, the Bureau was also quick to add that much of southern and eastern Australia remained in the grip of long term drought.

National Climate Centre climatologist Blair Trewin said the February rain had ended the short-term drought.

But far more was needed to reverse the trend of the past 13 years.

"Rainfall in the past year has generally been normal which has prevented the long term deficit from getting any worse," he said.

"But the general picture of the last 13 years has been one of sustained rainfall deficit and we haven't had any significant wet periods to balance out the drier periods."

Mr Trewin said one month of good rain "wasn't going to make a huge amount of headway".

"If we had six months we might be starting to get there," he said.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Andrew Broad said the rains were "certainly one of the best starts to the season we have seen".

"It's a wonderful start, a real blessing and a restorer of confidence, but let's not say it's money in the bank just yet," he said.

Stratford beef producer Doug Treasure said the drought was "definitely not over".

"We are four inches (100mm) away from a really good season and two weeks away from being back to where we were," Mr Treasure said.

Cobram dairy farmer Jim McKeown said it was too early to say if the drought had ended.

"I will tell you whether it has broken in September," he said.

"This rain has been ideal and could set us up for the best autumn break ever.

"But at the same time, we could still have a month or six weeks of hot weather."

Willaura prime lamb producer Tom Guthrie said despite receiving 100mm last month, the drought wasn't over.