Australian wheat farmers expect the bill from flooding rain that has wiped out wheat crops in the northwest of New South Wales (NSW) to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Agronomists have estimated “conservative” losses of 120,000 hectares of wheat with an estimated value up to $192 million as a result of widespread flooding in the Moree, Walgett and Narrabri areas.
It has prompted fresh calls for urgent financial support for farmers impacted by flooding who want emergency funding allocated in Tuesday’s budget.
NSW Farmers Grains Committee Chair Justin Everitt said some farmers were calling it a “wet drought”, and while it is unlikely to impact food prices in the short-term, he said for some growers it will be a financial disaster….