Farmers in southeast Australia swelter under unprecedented heatwave
FARMERS and crops are feeling the heat as temperatures soar across southeast Australia.
FARMERS and crops are feeling the heat as temperatures soar across southeast Australia.
The “unprecedented” heatwave gripping parts of Victoria, South Australia and NSW — heightened by a dry start to spring — has entered its fourth day with any form of relief not expected until tomorrow night.
Mildura yesterday hit 37.5C — its warmest day since March. Mildura, Hopetoun, Ouyen, Swan Hill and Walpeup are all going for tops of 39C today.
At 12.30pm, it was already 34.9C in Walepup and 34.8C at Mildura.
The temperatures — up to 12C above average in some parts — have destroyed or sapped potential from many crops just weeks ahead of harvest. Many farmers have spent the past week cutting their failed crops for hay.
Victorian Farmers Federation vice president David Jochinke, of Murra Warra north of Horsham, said there were reports that “you cannot get a bit of hay equipment to save your life at the moment”.
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Horsham farmer and harvest contractor Peter Velthuis said he had been “swamped” with inquiries from farmers in recent days to cut their failed crops for hay “so they can get something out of them”
Mr Velthuis said he had cut his wheat crops for hay, his barley was “holding on” while his canola crops were “in full flower and dying”.
“They are collapsing — you see them change colour every time you drive past them,” he said.
Rupanyup farmer Andrew Weidemann said the “unprecedented” warm weather was expected to lead to “a massive reduction” in crop estimates.
“Particularly pulses — canola is basically frying on the stalk,” Mr Weidemann said.
“It is just unprecedented hot weather on the back of a dry period and not enough moisture in the ground profile to feed the plant.”
Mr Weidemann said he would begin cutting his failed wheat crops for hay today while he doesn’t expect “much quality” from the remaining crops come harvest.
“At the moment, it really depends on whether we get any moisture on Tuesday night after this heatwave to recover anything,” he said. “We’re not out of the woods on a lot of crops yet.
“We’re lucky to be getting what we are at the moment ... to be able to salvage a bit of hay.”
Mr Weidemann said his son’s contract windrowing business had been “flat out” in wheat crops around Marnoo, Dimboola and Birchip.
Horsham farmer David Grimble said a run of hot weather coupled with “very poor” spring rainfall was having a “magnifying effect” on crops.
“It will be interesting to see how today goes given it’s supposed to be our hottest,” Mr Grimble said.
He said areas south of Horsham were still “a couple of weeks ahead” of those to the north and said while some crops would likely be cut for hay, many should be harvested for grain.
“We should get through but we’re running very low on moisture reserves,” he said.
Yarriambiack Shire mayor Andrew McLean, of Hopetoun, said the warm weather and the wind had picked up “and it’s pretty drying out there”.
“The crops are certainly browning off and there’s a fair bit of hay being cut around the place,” Cr McLean said.
“Some of our lighter country holds on a bit better, but the heavier is certainly on the way out. It is not looking so good and we’ve got a couple of days of these temperatures to come yet.”
Mr Jochinke said the warm weather did not necessarily mean “armageddon” for crop producers everywhere.
“There are some really good barley and lentil crops through our district ... there’s actually a sniff of a hope that things could be OK still, and OK being OK on the below side of average,” he said.
“People are just having to make tough calls at the moment and it is really going to be at the mercy of how warm and how windy it gets over the next week.”
SPRING SCORCHER
Weekend and forecast* temperatures
BALRANALD, NSW
Saturday: 34.5C
Sunday: 37.3C
Today: 38C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
DENILIQUIN, NSW
Saturday: 33.2C
Sunday: 36.6C
Today: 36C*
Tomorrow: 37C*
HAY, NSW
Saturday: 34.3C
Sunday: 36.9C
Today: 36C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
HOPETOUN
Saturday: 34.3C
Sunday: 36C
Today: 39C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
HORSHAM
Saturday: 34.4C
Sunday: 32.6C
Today: 37C*
Tomorrow: 35C*
IVANHOE, NSW
Saturday: 35.1C
Sunday: 37.7C
Today: 36C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
KERANG
Saturday: 33.3C
Sunday: 36C
Today: 38C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
MILDURA
Saturday: 34.7C
Sunday: 37.5C
Today: 39C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
OUYEN
Saturday: 34.9C
Sunday: 37.6C
Today: 39C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
SWAN HILL
Saturday: 33.9C
Sunday: 36.9C
Today: 39C*
Tomorrow: 38C*
WALPEUP
Saturday: 34.7C
Sunday: 37.1C
Today: 39C*
Tomorrow: 37C*
WARRACKNABEAL
Saturday: 34.5C
Sunday: 33.1C
Today: 36C*
Tomorrow: 34C*
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