Downpours likely to lift some farms' production
However, many farmers had not yet inspected their property, with many properties still flooded on Monday.
A spokeswoman from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said it was still too early to provide any information on the impact of storms on primary industries.
Meanwhile, chief executive of Cotton Australia Adam Kay said there were no initial reports of damage to cotton fields even though the crop was primarily grown in the storm-affected areas.
"Generally the rain is good news up in the Darling Downs. They have had 100 millimetres in areas and generally that was really welcome . . . The cotton crops in the south-east of Queensland and north-west NSW are boll-filling and it has been a pretty hot dry summer so this [rain] has certainly replenished the soil moisture in most areas."
The boll on plants will open into balls of cotton fibres in late February, he explained.
"We feel for the people - there are going to be other rural producers affected by flooding and the like. [But] generally across the cotton areas this has been of use rather than of hindrance."
Australian Beef Association chairman Brad Bellinger said the downpour could push beef prices up from a three-year low.
"With this rain, hopefully it will grow a lot more grass and producers will have the opportunity to hold back their livestock and it should lift prices," he said, adding there were no reports of large numbers of stock lost by Monday evening. Cattle on flat inland regions were spared the worst flooding because the heaviest rain fell on coastal regions, he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Queensland John McVeigh said he would meet industry bodies on Tuesday and the State Disaster Management Group would decide whether to give financial assistance once damage had been properly assessed.
"The Newman government is ready to assist primary producers but right now many of the impacts are not yet clear as flood peaks have not occurred in some regions and many primary producers are dealing with the emerging situations and understandably are too busy to answer phones," he said.
The head of sugar cane farmers' body Canegrowers, Steve Greenwood, said it was unclear if sugar crops were damaged by flooding.
"Damage will depend on how quickly flood waters recede and the sun comes out - and until that happens it is too early for the industry to make loss estimates," he said.
Wheat, barley and canola were harvested in recent months and new crops had not been sown yet, an AWB spokesman said.
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According to Cotton Australia, there were no initial reports of damage to cotton fields in the storm-affected areas. The heavy rain has replenished soil moisture after a hot, dry summer and is generally seen as helpful for cotton crops that are boll-filling, with bolls expected to open into cotton fibres in late February.
The Australian Beef Association says the downpour could help grass grow, allowing producers to hold stock back and potentially lift beef prices from recent lows. As of the report there were no large-scale stock losses and cattle in flat inland regions were largely spared the worst flooding.
Canegrowers' head Steve Greenwood said it was too early to tell if sugar crops were damaged. Damage will depend on how quickly flood waters recede and the sun returns, so the industry cannot make loss estimates until waters drop and fields can be inspected.
Queensland’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said he would meet industry bodies and that the State Disaster Management Group would decide on financial assistance once damage has been properly assessed. The government said it is ready to assist but impacts were not yet clear.
No. A spokeswoman from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said it was still too early to provide information on the storms’ impact. Many farmers had not yet inspected properties and some areas remained flooded at the time of reporting.
An AWB spokesman noted that wheat, barley and canola had been harvested in recent months and new crops had not yet been sown, so immediate flood impacts on those harvested crops were not a factor and implications for new sowings were still to be determined.
The article makes clear it will take time: damage and production impacts depend on flood peaks, how quickly waters recede, and on-ground inspections. Industry bodies and government assessments are pending, so clearer information will follow once floodwaters drop and assessments are completed.
The piece suggests a mixed picture: despite early fears, the downpour may benefit some industries by breaking a six-month dry spell—cotton and beef areas may see improvements—while effects on other sectors like sugar remain uncertain until floodwaters recede and detailed assessments are made.
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