NSW farmers lament heavy rain
GRAIN farmers in NSW fear they may barely scrape a profit this year as persistent rain causes hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Harsh winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall are again expected to strike large areas of the state on Thursday, after days of heavy downpours.
NSW Farmers Association grain committee chairman Dan Cooper said growers would be forced to downgrade the quality of their crops in the wake of the “useless” rains, with some areas receiving up to 100mm of rain during this year’s harvest.
“If you start knocking dollars off the wheat price, it cuts into your profit margin and sends you back towards breaking even,” Mr Cooper said on Thursday.
“The longer this overcast, drizzly weather sticks around, the greater potential for more damage.” Mr Cooper said there was some silver lining to the nagging rain clouds for cotton growers and irrigators.
“But if we don’t get run-off into the catchments, it’ll be all for nothing,” he said.
“The benefits are outweighed by the potential grain downgrading by a very long way.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning residents in central NSW to brace for thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon as a low-pressure system moves through the state from Adelaide.
Severe thunderstorms are expected to home in on the state’s northeast on Friday.
NSW SES Commissioner Adam Dent is urging residents to batten down the hatches to minimise damage to houses and businesses. Mr Dent said damage already done to NSW communities this storm season could have been prevented with better preparation.
“Cleaning gutters and downpipes, securing or putting away loose items, checking your roof is in good repair and keeping out of flash floodwater are simple measures that can make a big difference when storms strike,” Mr Dent said on Thursday.
