Quality downgrade extent still unclear, but weather, flood damage already taking a big toll

As The Land went to press, the community of Forbes was waiting for the Lachlan River to peak, which was expected to reach 10.55 metres at Iron Bridge. This was just shy of the September 2016 level of 10.65m. Downstream at Jemalong, the flood was expected to peak at a moderate level of 7.5m.

The flows have come through slower and slightly lower than initial predictions after the river peaked at 12.45m at Nanami on Monday, upstream of Forbes.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded rain totals for the preceding week of 133 millimetres at Orange, Cowra 74mm, Bigga 106mm and Crookwell 109mm, which has contributed to the flooding in the Lachlan and Belubula river catchments.

Also, Bathurst had 112mm, Young 96mm, Grenfell 105mm, Glen Innes 83mmm, Tenterfield 69mm, Krui Plains 98mm, Moree 56mm, Narrabri 52mm, Walgett 24mm, Brewarrinna 26mm, Coonamble 34mm, Forbes 55mm, Condobolin 36mm, Peak Hill 59mm, Temora 32mm, Cobar 35mm, White Cliffs 29mm, Balranald 33mm, Coleambally 46mm, Mulwala 47mm, Tumbarumba 62mm and Wentworth 29mm.

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NSW Department of Primary Industries technical specialist, pulses and oilseeds, Don McCaffery, Orange, said despite some big rainfall totals, the on-the-ground situation showed significant variation across and within regions. He said growers at the lower end of the rain totals had been back in their paddocks for a couple of days.

Meanwhile, strong wind around Temora, Harden and Cowra had caused lodging in cereals and canola. Flood damage at Cowra was limited to small areas in the main river valley.

He said only a small percentage of canola in the area had been windrowed and of that which was still standing, some was in 30-50 centimetres of water, but most was expected to come through in reasonable condition.

Pulses, meanwhile, had good yields where harvested, but ascochyta had been a challenge in chickpeas in most areas, while areas still to harvest, Botrytis grey mold was also a concern.

Mr McCaffery said hail damage was reported near Parkes, affecting about 10,000ha of crop, and while there were widespread reports of shot and sprung and black tip, he said the full extent of weather downgrading wouldn't be clear until the crops were delivered.

The BoM has forecast more wet weather for the weekend, with showers predicted for areas like Crookwell in the Upper Lachlan River catchment, but rain to storms for Orange in the upper Belubula Riiver catchment.

On Tuesday, as floodwater rose around Forbes, it was still unclear what the damage to crops would be.

The water had been extremely slow moving, said AgriWest agronomist, Tom Macleay, as the peak approached.

He has clients around Forbes and Cowra and when The Land spoke to him on Tuesday, he was on his way to visit a client near Jemalong who had already received flood damage in September and was now bracing for a more significant inundation.

Mr Macleay said about 70 per cent of the district's canola had been windrowed, the weather having interrupted what was otherwise the ideal window for the remainder.

"We had a lot of growers windrowing in the rain and had to pull up because it got a bit greasy," he said.

The mild finish to the season meant harvest further north had dragged out and was now clashing with those in the Central West.

Growers who had been in northern areas helping others had found themselves in the awkward situation of having to head back home before all the northern crops were finished. But the recent rain and now the flood meant access to their own paddocks had become limited anyway.

"We're about one month behind in harvest - we haven't had a header turn a key," he said.

With the flood now upon them, he estimated some growers would not get started until into December.

Where crops do fail, he said growers would consider options such as a summer crops, or a fodder crop to help make better use of the remaining stubble for stock trading.

"Looking at 5t/ha wheat crops with an inch of water under them is frustrating, but it's been done before, and if we're still harvesting in the new year, it's still money in the bank," he said.

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