NSW farmers have warned there is “a disaster unfolding” as the heavy rains flooding the state’s east stop them sowing broadacre grains such as wheat and canola this season.
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He said waterlogged land meant farmers could not get equipment into paddocks to plant crops and that, even if they did, the wet conditions made growth unlikely.“The paddocks are a minefield, whether you get bogged or not, and our sowing machine would be nearly 25 tonnes all up when it’s fully loaded,” he said.
“At the moment, all we can do is hope we don’t have too much damage but we were reasonably lucky and at least got [crops] in the ground, because by the time the land dries out again, it’s going to be too late for the vast majority of people.” “This last weather front had some growers really struggling. There will be hectares not sown ... probably ranging from central NSW in Forbes and Parkes up to the Queensland border. They’re not large areas, but for those growers affected it would be significant,” he said.“There’s not much they can do apart from praying for fine weather but [the wet weather’s] been quite pronounced and I think they’re getting a bit tired of it, much like the people in Sydney.
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