RICE growers have walked away from 4500ha of crop after duck and wind damage in the Riverina.
Grower surveys revealed 5 per cent of the national crop has been completely abandoned after ducks stripped rice bays of maturing plants.
Ricegrowers Association of Australia executive director Ruth Wade said this morning, an estimated 11,000-12,000ha was resown due to duck and wind damage.
Mrs Wade said of the one million tonnes planted, a 900,000-930,000 tonne harvest was expected.
This is up on last year's 800,000 tonne harvest.
"For some individuals it has been devastating with the loss of significant areas of crop," Mrs Wade said.
"Overall, it is not too bad."
Mrs Wade said the majority of crops were over the critical maturity phase to be affected by a cold spell earlier this month.
"Some early crops may be potentially affected but we won’t see the damage until the grain comes in," she said.
"We are hoping for a good average crop this year – we are not expecting any records after a mild summer."
Duck and wind damage combined with poor rice prices have convinced many Riverina growers to convert their irrigation layouts to cotton.
"It is a commercial decision people have to make," Mrs Wade said.
"We have to ensure there is enough rice to meet industry infrastructure requirements of 800,000 tonnes a year.
"We cannot control the (Australian) dollar or the price of rice – a lot of people will hedge their bets a bit.
"Rice production will ebb and flow, come and go.
"People have gone from rice into maize before."
Mrs Wade conceded high cotton prices had encouraged the conversion in the northern Riverina.
"But prices won't stay there either," she said.
"Growers have got to value their water in the best way they can to maximise business opportunities."
