Summer deluge hits growers: See the pictures here

Victorian towns have been hit with rain and hail overnight, with some areas receiving more than 100ml as the summer deluge continues.

Madeleine Stuchbery

@MadeStuchbery

2 min read

January 8, 2024 - 11:59AM

The Weekly Times

SES pleads Victorians not to drive into floodwater as storms hit state

Rampant weed growth, conditions ripe for fungus and hail damage have taken their toll on Victoria’s horticulture industry in the past week, as the state continues to endure a summer deluge.

Enduring wet weather and humid conditions are placing further input pressure on growers, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a brown rot warning for the state.

Bureau rainfall records for the 24 hours to 9am Monday showed Redesdale recorded more than 100mm, with Bendigo and Mangalore receiving 93mm and 83mm of rain respectively.

The enduring wet weather and warm summer conditions makes tackling weeds and battling fungus an ongoing task for growers, according to industry leaders.

Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager Michael Crisera said about 500ha of land in prime fruit-growing country in Victoria was damaged by heavy rain or hail in the past week.

And with more rain forecast for the coming day, issues such as rot and fruit damage would need to be navigated by some growers.

“A few of our growers were hit by hail … some had 40 per cent damage, (some) up to 100 per cent,” Mr Crisera said.

Excessive hail has damaged about 500ha of land across Victoria in the past week. Picture: Supplied

“It’s a challenge for some with the rot issues you can have, and it can dilute sugars, you want higher sugar levels and you get better consumption of fruit when it’s sweeter.”

“The beginning of the season was good for stone fruit, it wasn’t as wet. We’re hoping (the forecast) is wrong and that it’s not too wet. We need it to be dry now.”

Split fruit from excessive rain and hail damage. Picture: Supplied

Gunbower prime lamb producer John Toll records weather data for the BOM, and has access to about 60 years of data.

He said recent rainfall in his region was some of the worst he’d seen at this time of year.

“It’s certainly an interesting outlook,” Mr Toll said.

“It’s the wettest by my records, ever. The farms up here are literally green.”

Two hours west of Gunbower, Yarrawonga recorded 30mm of rainfall in 24 hours.

Seymour received 81mm of rain in 24 hours, as summer rainfall lashed the state across the weekend. Picture: Supplied

“The only negative is the weeds, such as khaki weed. Weeds are becoming a major problem in country Victoria, north of the divide today … it’s starting to spread at alarming proportions … summer rains here can generate that sort of thing.”

Rob Pelletier is an orchardist selling fruit and ornamental trees near Beaufort.

He said a small “mini tornado” about 30 to 40 metres wide whipped through his property last week, dumping 25mm of rain in as many minutes.

“We’ve kicked off the new year already surpassing the January long-term average,” Mr Pelletier said.

“The biggest thing is, because we have orchards, is the fungal problem. This weather is ideal for brown rot and apple black spot.”

RAINFALL 24 HOURS TO 9AM MONDAY

Victoria

Redesdale 117mm

Bendigo 92mm

Mangalore 83mm

Kerang 57mm

Warracknabeal 45mm

Stawell 40mm