Hail, frost cruels crop yields

Widespread frost and hail has left farmers in southern NSW and Victoria counting the cost of the damage.

Farmers across Australia’s south east say the extent of frost and hail damage will be revealed at harvest.

While northern NSW farmers celebrate bin-buster crops, millions of dollars in revenue is expected to be shaved off the bottom line of winter production in the Riverina, Victoria, and South Australia following adverse weather events.

Agri Business Consulting Group assessor Marty Colbert, Nhill, has travelled through Nyah, Sea Lake, Birchip, Donald, Nhill, Horsham and Miga Lake to assess potential yields.

“You could draw a 60-kilometre circle around Birchip. There are a lot of people with decent crops on the Wimmera plains who had significant frost damage,” he said.

Frost affected canola. Picture: Kelly Angel

“No one likes to talk about frost because it’s like driving past a car accident, you prefer not to look.”

He said there were significant areas with crops that were at the most susceptible stages when hit with “very intense frost”.

“Regarding the yield prospects, my thought running through the Mallee is I’ve never seen it look that bad. There’s an average crop there but it’s been cut in half by frost or hay cut.”

Mr Colbert said the October 16 hail would reduce some yield, but it was confined to smaller areas. One farm he visited with Hallmark Lentils had a potential $1500/ha to “zero” drop.

Hallmark Lentils. From a potential $1500 ha to zero in 15 minutes. pic.twitter.com/e3UCppnmcT

— Marty Colbert (@colbert_marty) October 23, 2024

Murtoa farmer Chris Delahunty grows wheat, canola, and barley and said the hail came through in a narrow strip.

However, the same location was also affected by frost.

“We have cut one paddock of wheat for hay due to frost,” he said.

On the upside, he said the lentil crops appeared to have “recovered” better than expected.

“I don’t know what was worse, the hail or frost,” he said.

Mr Delahunty said he couldn’t put a percentage on yield losses until harvest.

“I’m trying to be glass half full when it comes to the challenges that were thrown at us this year … I guess we will see the results in a month’s time when we harvest,” he said.

Stewart Hamilton of Inverleigh. Picture: Chloe Smith

Stewart Hamilton who farms at Inverleigh said 60mm of rain fell in his area following storms last week.

“There have been crops around here that were smashed by hail,” he said.

He estimated about 20 per cent yield loss in canola from hail damage but conceded it was difficult to tell at this stage.

“We start windrowing in about two weeks,” he said.

Rob Gollasch at Wallacetown in southern NSW. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

Southern NSW farmer Rob Gollasch of Wallacetown said his area had escaped the hail damage, but the September frost was likely to be costly.

He grows wheat, barley, lupins and canola and said there were some paddocks where the yield losses were likely to be up to 50 per cent due to the September frost.

“The temperatures got down to -5C in September,” he said.

Mr Gollasch will start windrowing in a couple of days and said he thought the canola had “recovered” somewhat, but the true damage wouldn’t be known until harvest.

“I can see damage to the lupins, and it would take a bit to regain any yield,” he said.

In addition to the frost Mr Gollasch said it had been a dry finish to the season.

Despite that, crops had coped better than expected.

In the Swan Hill region, Manangatang farmer Christine Plant was preparing to sample her crops of barley, wheat, lentils, and chickpeas.

“Our lentils were badly frosted and they started reflowering but then we had another light frost,” Ms Plant said.

She said her chickpeas benefited from recent rain, up to 32mm, but barley was “finished and ready to go”.

They were still deciding on whether to deliver or store, but decided not to employ anyone for this year’s harvest.

“The paddocks vary, you go through a frosty bit then an unaffected bit. How it’s all going to wash up I’m not sure,” she said.

“It’s been a double whammy with the dry and the frosts.”