A frightening frost outlook for many central areas of NSW is creating huge angst for farmers seeing some of their best crops in years rise in the paddock.
Elders Lake Cargellico agronomist Pat Connell said it was possible yields could be decimated if the frost forecast plays out in the next few days.
The area of concern was from Griffith north right up to Nyngan.
For instance, at Condobolin the forecast is for three days of zero to subzero minimums.
On Saturday at Condobolin the temperature will plummet to zero degrees, followed by minus one on Sunday and minus two on Monday - an extraordinary run of cold weather for this time of year.
Mr Connell said any frost now could not come at a worse time in the growing season, after recent rain and the grain heads watery.
Some crops in the Euabalong and Tullibigeal area were some of the best seen in many years, with canola set to harvest up to two tonnes a hectare in what is a low-rainfall area, and wheat set to go up to 4t/ha in the region.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
