Much-needed rains will sweep across NSW this weekend but farmers warn that significant falls are still needed before the "green drought" can be declared over.

For Derek Blomfield's farm at Quirindi on the fertile black soils of the Liverpool Plains, the 60 millimetres of rain in the past few days have been "fantastic, and the best falls in 18 months".

"It looks green and wonderful – it looks like England," said Mr Blomfield. "You wouldn't think we're in a shocking drought."

Areas around Merriwa in the Upper Hunter remain very dry despite better rainfall across much of NSW. Credit:Nick Moir

While October rains have helped ease NSW's worst dry spell since at least 1965, the images of dams filling up and a green tinge on the landscape don't mean farms and towns that rely on them are back on the recovery track.