But it's not all rainbows for prune and grape growers who are now readying for harvest.

It's not looking better as yet for irrigators either, with the Department of Primary Industries saying we would need several months of above average rainfall to increase allocations.

"If it was to clear up in the next few days it wouldn't affect us too much," grape grower and Riverina Wine-grape Growers Chairman Bruno Brombal says.

This year's tonnage is going to be less than last year's, down from a 334,000 to an estimated under 300,000 tonnes.

Some growers are expecting less than five tonnes a hectare, yet some are still pulling 18 tonne.

Grape prices, especially whites, have not increased enough for growers to break even.

Many had to by water at close to $800 a megalitre to cope with the blisteringly high temperatures of the last few weeks.

The forecasted rain for the rest of the week is now more than a dampener.

"It's very demoralising for some," Mr Brombal said.

"Buying the water at these prices compared to what we are harvesting, it's not sustainable.

"I expect some will be selling temporary water next year instead of growing a crop, but it is the grower's decision.

"Some places are still wet after 25 to 50 millimetres of rain overnight; they have to dry before we can pick them, but we need to get them off as fast as we can."

Negotiating with wineries for prices and harvest schedules is the only way to make sure growers get the best out of this season as it stands, Mr Brombal says.

"These are important issues. Growers need to talk, negotiate and work out a system with their wineries for this current harvest."

Darlington Point's Tony Toscan, Australian Prune Industry Association president, said prune harvest would also be down on last year's.

"We will be down on last year's production but not substantially," Mr Toscan explained.

Crops have seen some heat damage caused by the recent over 40 degree temperatures, but they would be preferable now to the rain.

It proves "you can't pick what's coming," he said.

"It would be preferential for us to have hot weather, as we'd use less gas for drying, and it's always much smoother to harvest in hot, dry weather rather than having to deal with rain events," he explained.

"The fruit is in good condition and we hope it still will be when we harvest."

Continued rain may cause issues such as mould and brown rot.

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"You have a short window to harvest the crop, and rain means you are unable to get in."

"[Prunes] are very much in demand with our loyal customers, and we hope to keep supplying them Australian prunes so we don't have to import."