Farmers fear $100m loss as floods sweep away crops

Many farmers are due to harvest their crops next week, but ­believe at least 80 per cent will be lost by the floods due to hit central west NSW.

For the past 27 years Duncan has managed Bogabigal, a 1600 hectare property on the outskirts of Forbes, in Western NSW. Picture: Gary Ramage

Farmers fear they will lose more than $100m of crops as they prepare to be hit by floods in central west NSW.

Many farmers are due to harvest their crops next week, but ­believe at least 80 per cent will be lost by the floods due to hit the ­region within the next two days.

Graphic: The Australian

State Emergency Service volunteers have arrived from across the state to help prepare for the devastation.

The town of Forbes, population over 8000, is of main concern, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting “major” flooding from Tuesday night.

Residents and businesses are sandbagging their properties as large amounts of rain combined with overflow from Wyangala Dam resulting in a large flow of water along the Lachlan River.

Farmers are herding cattle to higher ground as they wait for the inevitable. Everyone has been warned to prepare to evacuate, however no order has been made yet.

In Forbes there are about 30 SES teams on the ground with more than 100 volunteers helping with sandbagging.

Agronomist Jim Cronin has lived in Forbes for 25 years, and said the proximity of the floods to harvesting time was devastating for farmers.

Jim Cronin’s property backs onto the river. His chook pen has already gone under as has his sons footy field. Picture: Gary Ramage

“All the money has been spent all year – crop’s looking phenomenal – you get a week off harvest and it potentially looks like farmers in those areas are going to lose massive amounts of grain,” he said at his property, parts of which were submerged by flood water already.

“This one’s probably going to be one of the worst because we’re just so close to harvest. We should be harvesting now, so they’ve (farmers) spent all their money. Blokes were still only fertilising a month ago.

“There’s a lot of areas that are going to be inundated.”

Mr Cronin believes these coming floods will be worse than 2016, which claimed one life.

“2016 didn’t hit town too hard; it kind of diverted around to the south of town. But indications are this one might actually hit town pretty hard,” he said.

SES volunteers are frantically filling thousands of sandbags in Forbes. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Cronin anticipates the ­financial impact on agriculture in the region could exceed $100m.

“It just depends how long the water stays, how far it spreads. Indications are it’s probably going to be pretty nasty,” he said.

“You look at crop loss, pasture loss, guys having to move livestock and you don‘t know when you can get them back onto graze. It’s significant.”

Across town Duncan Williams is herding sheep at the wheat, canola and sheep farm, Bogabigal, which he has managed for 27 years.

He is anticipating most of the 1600ha farm will be covered by up to a metre of water.

“What I’m worried about is the sheep being caught on the wrong side of the water,” he said.

Mr Cronin estimated Mr Williams could lose conservatively any where up to $600,000 worth of canola and wheat crops, if the flood was as bad as 2016.

He was scheduled to harvest the canola crops next Wednesday. His proximity to the river makes that highly unlikely. “We’re only about five to seven days off harvesting,” Mr Williams said.

“You put a lot of effort into crops. There’s a lot of sweat, a lot of planning and plotting.

“It’s a big hit to be honest.

“The other problem you’re going to have is the bloody clean-up afterwards. That’ll be the next bit, just to clean the joint up afterwards.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting minimum rain in the region in the coming days. Showers are expected on Friday.