$10m-plus losses as floods wipe out soybeans, sorghum

Thousands of hectares of crops have been lost in record floods in NSW and Queensland. See how these farmers are responding.

Soybean and sorghum growers have recorded millions of dollars worth of losses as the flood clean-up continues across northern NSW and southeast Queensland.

North Coast Oilseed Growers Association president and Soy Australia chairman Paul Fleming said he estimated flooding had washed $10 million worth of soybeans into the flood waters in the NSW north coast region, and the destruction to farm infrastructure would have long term effects.

Soybean crops have been affected by floods on the NSW north coast. This image is from Casino, NSW. Picture: supplied

“It’s just devastating for growers. There’s not a grower who isn’t affected,” he said.

Growers on the NSW north coast planted about 7000ha of soybeans this season, and of that Mr Fleming estimated 4000-5000ha was wiped out, and 800-1000ha downgraded.

“Of the total, maybe 1200 will come out OK,” he said.

Mr Fleming, who personally lost about 50 per cent of his soybean crop, said despite heavy losses in northern NSW, he didn’t expect the state’s overall harvest total to be significantly affected.

“The good thing about the soybean industry is that it’s so widespread that other areas can pick up the slack when a hole is left by one area,” he said.

“I would expect the total national tonnage would be similar to a normal year.”

McGregor Gourlay senior agronomist Steve Leeson, who works with dozens of farmers on the north coast, said more or less all crops on the flood plains of the three major rivers in the area had been lost, some inundated with five or six metres of water.

“On the Tweed River, the Richmond River and the Clarence River, there’s basically no soybeans left in those areas,” he said.

“We’ve got crops that are still underwater.”

Further west, away from the flood plains in areas like Urbenville and Tabulum, growers hadn’t had as heavy an inundation and some crops had survived, he said.

Soybean crops have been washed away in northern NSW. Picture: Supplied

Sorghum crops downgraded

Sorghum crops in northern NSW and southeast Queensland have been lost or downgraded as a result of heavy rain and weeks of wet conditions.

Grain Growers chairman Brett Hosking said the industry was still assessing the extent of the damage. About 40 per cent of east coast crops hadn’t been harvested when they were exposed to heavy rain and flooding this month, he said.

Any crops that were “ripened and ready to harvest” when the rain and flooding hit were likely to have been lost or downgraded, while crops planted later in the season may benefit from the extra moisture, Mr Hosking said.

But there was likely to be a market for any downgraded crop.

“There’s a really large export program going to China at the moment. And there is potential that even some weather damaged sorghum will still be suitable for that Chinese market,” Mr Hosking said.

“Not all is lost. China’s got a big herd rebuild program going on. There’s opportunities there.”

Central Darling Downs sorghum grower Stuart McIntyre said his sorghum was looking “pretty average” after weeks of rain.

Mr McIntyre said his crop “didn’t look too bad” after an initial dump of 100mm of rain two weeks ago, but days of showery weather and “a couple of falls of 30mm” did “the main amount of damage”, he said.

“Grain has started to either shell out or sprout, and there is mould on it,” he said.

Mr McIntyre planted two sorghum varieties this season, and the results were “a mixed bag”.

“I don’t think we’re going to know the full extent of it until we get the header out.”