That’s how Crookwell grazier and potato farmer Kim Weir sums up the last 12 months.

A perfect winter and autumn leave farmers across the district poised to cope with a spring the Department of Primary Industries warns will be hot and dry.

Solid winter rain consolidated a near-record autumn fall and has graziers and growers alike optimistic about the summer ahead.

“It’s been a perfect 12 months,” explained Mr Weir, who runs cattle and sheep and grows potatoes on a 1000-acre property near Crookwell.

“We had a hot, dry summer, nice autumn break and a wet winter.

If you could write a script like this each year, it’d be perfect.”

Those at the NSW Department of Primary Industries aren’t so optimistic. Strong winter frosts wreaked havoc for crop farmers and wine growers in parts, while a sudden change in temperatures has sucked moisture from previously well watered soil.

The Department is warning farmers the state-over to brace themselves for a lean summer.

“Soil moisture across the state is now rapidly declining as the weather warms up,” seasonal conditions coordinator Ian McGowen said.

“All areas need good rainfall in September to provide moisture for grain filling, promote pasture growth, improve soil moisture profiles and to replenish stock water supplies ahead of summer.

“Last month’s rainfall was average or above across 76 per cent of NSW, with good falls across most of western, northern and coastal NSW.

“However, much of southern and central NSW received below average rainfall, and some areas received only patchy falls.”

The Crookwell-Goulburn corridor bucked the rest of the state’s trend, it seems.

Crookwell potato farmer Garry Kadwell is excited about the season ahead.

“January and February were tough, but since the March break it’s been perfect,” he explained.

“If we can get some of those summer storms, that’d be perfect.”

While the outlook seems promising, Mr Kadwell has his work cut out.

“It’s certainly going to be an early spring,” he added.

“We had such good growth at the back end of summer.”

Local wine growers are also positive despite the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast.

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of Kingsdale Wines owners Howard and Elle Spark is disease, not the elements.

“Our worry’s not so much wet or dry weather at this time of year,” Mrs Spark said.

“Keeping an eye on the early morning temperatures and frosts, and monitoring disease is our priority.”

The couple plan to bring their vines into leaf over the coming months in preparation for next winter’s pickings.