Granite Belt farmers’ struggle after floods destroy harvest, experts call on

The region’s March flooding continues to have devastating impacts on many producers with their crops, livestock, and financial income still feeling its force even months later.

The extensive flash flooding across the Granite Belt in late March caused extensive damage to the Eldorado cotton farm.

The flash flooding across the Granite Belt in late March continues to cause devastating financial and agricultural consequences for producers across the region.

Dan and Kelly Ostwald’s Texas cotton farm, called Eldorado, was one of the hardest hit in this year’s floods.

Mr Ostwald said initial reports from the Bureau of Meteorology predicted flood levels of up to 7m, but those estimates were quickly overshot following significant rainfall.

As the couple monitored the rising flood waters into the night, they knew they were in trouble when floods peaked at 8.4 metres high.

“We just had to sit and watch as the floods came through and we couldn’t go and see the damage until dawn broke, but by then our crops were fully submerged,” he said.

Dan and Kelly Ostwald’s cotton farm Eldorado, was one of the hardest hit in this years’ floods at Texas.

The flooding caused extensive damage to the couple’s cotton crops, which were in their final stages before harvest in April and May.

“When the flooding event occurred, we’d already incurred all our growing costs ready for the beginning of harvest and picking operations,” Mr Ostwald said.

“We now don’t have the opportunity to grow any high-value crops here until the end of spring this year, which is having a substantial impact on our cash flow.”

The flooding caused extensive damage to the couple’s cotton crops which were in their final stages before an April and May harvest.

Mr Ostwald said recovery was difficult, but the couple were trying to find any positives in the floods, such as more moisture in the ground and the increased river water allocation.

“We’re salvaging what we can out of the crops to recuperate some costs and are also trying to clean up the fencing and the paddocks,” he said.

Mr Ostwald said the support from the community, Goondiwindi Regional Council, and State Government was “absolutely first class”.

“The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries reached out us and came to see first-hand the devastation caused,” he said.

The relentlessly heavy rainfall that ripped through the Granite Belt just months ago caused flash flooding and extensive damage to roads and properties.

There were however some positives to come from the floods with Storm King Dam reaching capacity for the first time in three years, which overjoyed many Stanthorpe producers.

Dam levels reaching capacity also brought an end to water carting to Stanthorpe and strict water restrictions.

Originally published as Granite Belt farmers’ struggle after floods destroy harvest, experts call on