November hailstorm causes devastating damage for Adelaide Hills apple growers for second year running
Adelaide Hills apple growers are counting the devastating cost of a November hailstorm, feared to have had a similar impact to last year’s $32 million wipeout.
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Adelaide Hills apple growers are counting the devastating cost of a November hailstorm, feared to have had a similar impact to last year’s $32 million wipeout.
Up to 70 per cent of the Hills crop is estimated to have been damaged in the November 21 storm, which left thousands of homes without power, ripped off roofs and felled Stobie poles.
South Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association chief executive Susie Green said the weather event came at a “gut-wrenching” time when growers were struggling financially.
“It’s going to be very challenging for many, particularly because growers were trying to grow this crop on little income, so to face another significant loss is devastating,” Ms Green said.
“The margins are quite tight and every grower is carrying losses.”
Ms Green said the storm assessment was still being completed, but it was “very similar to the storm last year”.
“We estimated $32 million worth of losses last year and we expect to see a similar figure this year,” she said.
“In some blocks, almost every apple has been impacted, while others are a bit more patchy.
“On average, between 60-70 per cent of the Hills crop has been impacted in some way.”
In April, a campaign encouraged shoppers to eat imperfect fruit after a hailstorm in October last year affected 60 pear and apple growers in the Hills.
Ms Green said a similar campaign may be started in the near future because a lot of the fruit, to be picked from February and April, would make good eating, but have minor imperfections.
She said growers had been referred to Rural Business Support to access financial assistance available to drought-affected farmers, but she said State Government support for long-term solutions, such as a net subsidy, would be welcomed.
The call comes as bird numbers increase to a “horrendous” level in the Hills.
“Putting netting up certainly helps, but the challenge is it’s very expensive — $60,000-$70,000 a hectare.
“New South Wales offered support to a number of their growers to put netting up to protect fruit growers against fruit bats and it would be fantastic to see a similar scheme here.”
Lenswood apple grower Michael Stafford, of Stafford Orchards, said all of his crop had been affected by the storm.
“It’s as bad as last year, probably worse,” Mr Stafford said.
“It looks like 60 to 70 per cent of the fruit is only suitable for juice.”
Mr Stafford said they had dipped into their reserves following last year’s storm and this season would be “even more difficult” to get through.
“We’ll be looking to be as innovative as we can to go through,” he said.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said the Government was working closely with RBS to provide support to affected growers.
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