Lower Eyre Peninsula croppers sustain significant losses

Eyre Peninsula farmers have suffered individual losses running into six figures due to wind.

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The outlook for the state’s grain harvest has taken another hit, with Lower Eyre Peninsula farmers counting their losses after strong winds, which could run into millions of dollars.

The Lower Eyre Peninsula was one of the best performing areas in the state this year – after drought and frost hit many other parts of the state.

The EP losses add to other major challenges the farming sector had this year, with the lower Yorke Peninsula being hit by fire and areas such as Pinery being severely frost-affected.

Phil Docking, who farms at Koppio Hills, 30 kilometres north of Port Lincoln, says he has lost between 35 per cent to 50 per cent of his yield potential due to hot winds that went up to 85 kilometres an hour recently.

Crop damage at Phil Docking’s Koppio property.

Mr Docking said what was particularly unusual about this weather event was that wheat crops were badly affected, whereas usually barley crops are more susceptible to wind damage.

“The loss in the barley wasn’t as bad as the wheat,” he said.

Mr Docking estimates he had lost about $40,000 on his barley crops from the wind damage, compared to the estimated $120,000 loss on the wheat.

“There’s plenty of farmers who have been affected, so the costs are going to be significant,” he said.

Mr Docking said he was concerned about the ramifications from having so much grain now lying on the ground due to wind damage. Grain on the ground is a known attractant to mice and too much grain consumption can affect livestock health.

“We’re running out of paddock feed, so as we’re reaping crops, we want to put sheep into the paddocks, but now we need to be careful they don’t eat too much grain,” he said.

Crop damage from strong winds at Mark Modra’s property at Edilillie.

Mark Modra, who also farms on the Lower Eyre Peninsula at Greenpatch and Edilillie, estimates he’s sustained grain losses of up to 60 per cent, particularly on the top of his hilly country.

“This was really a one in 10 year wind event,” he said.

Agronomist Denis Pedler said wind damage was widespread, going as far north as Tooligie.

“It’s particularly unusual to see such bad losses in wheat from wind damage,” he said.