Regional Federated Farmers dairy chairman and Rerewhakaaitu farmer Bryon Osborne said the weekend's rainfall on top of what had fallen earlier in the month had taken some of the stress off but they weren't out of the woods yet.
In the past five days, 90mm of rainfall had been recorded in Rerewhakaaitu, he said.
"The paddocks have a green tinge to them now. We are most relieved by this back-up rain in the past four or five days. It's germinated the grass seed. Most farmers have put nitrogen on but cover is still a bit low."
Winter this year would be extremely hard, Mr Osborne said.
It could take farmers more than a year to recover from the summer drought, he said.
"There is going to be a hang-over effect for at least 12 months. The pressure cooker is on."
Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust chairman Derek Spratt said that while the rainfall had eased the pressure unless they had follow-up sun, pastures wouldn't be as lush heading into winter - meaning there may not be enough feed for stock.
"This is the crunch. If it turns cold the grass growth will be light. There will be a lagging effect from the drought."
MetService weather forecaster Ian Gall said the "heavy thunder cloud" which hit Tauranga and the Eastern Bay, dropping 75mm of rainfall in two hours missed Rotorua.
"It's been somewhat patchy with the odd lumpy spot."
However, rain should start clearing today as the low pressure system moves away with the "odd shower" due tomorrow, Mr Gall said.
"Another system with more frequent showers and north west winds is expected to arrive on Wednesday."