THE ctivation of the new Rainbow Radar station has been described as a key step forward for the regions farmers at a critical time for the industry.

Located 10km from the township of Rainbow, the new Doppler is live on the Bureau of Meteorology website as of Wednesday and will help Farmers across the Wimmera and Southern Mallee and into parts of Farrer in Southern NSW make vital management decisions with greater confidence.

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the new radar, funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments, strengthened the Bureau of Meteorology's national observations network.

"We know just how vital radar and weather information is when farmers, emergency services and the broader community need to make critical decisions,” she said.

Member for Mallee Anne Webster welcomed the benefits it would bring local farmers at a time when they are making key decisions.

“For farmers across Mallee, accurate weather data is vital in order to make good decisions when it comes to planting, spraying and harvesting,” she said.

“This new Doppler radar will provide residents and farmers across the Wimmera Mallee region the ability to track short term rain forecasts, wind speed and storms.

“It will ensure that farmers can access the data they need to maximise their outputs.”