Flooding rains continue to impact Australian ag communities

Incredible rainfall totals have created significant challenges across a wide area in Australia’s south-east. 

“Within our business we sustained heavy flooding at our Seymour branch. Once the water receded the team did a fantastic job cleaning up the site to make sure we were trading again within a couple of days and providing that much needed support, products and services to farmers in the region,” said Jon White, Nutrien Ag Solutions Region Manager - South East.  

“A number of our colleagues, their friends, families and customers were also directly impacted by the flooding particularly around Shepparton, Rochester and Echuca. 

“I’m so proud of the community leadership displayed by the Nutrien team over the past few weeks. With many reports of staff volunteering their time, tools and labour to support their local towns and neighbours. 

“The situation is dynamic as flood water recedes from the Goulburn, Campaspe, and Loddon river systems. Communities across northeast and central Victoria have started cleaning up and assessing the impact. As the water continues to make its way down the Murray River, we will see a sustained impact for communities along the river. 

“One of the top-of-mind challenges for us at present is logistics. There are still communities isolated by flood water and a number of roads are not passable due to either flooding or damage to bridges and road surfaces. Access is also restricted inside the farm gate making it difficult to move livestock in our peak Spring selling season and for cropping customers access to paddocks as we approach harvest is also difficult. Our teams are working with customers to best understand their individual situation and offer support and recommendations as required. 

“In terms of the impact on the crop, while in pockets there are devastating impacts for our customers, and there are certainly crops badly effected by waterlogging and lodging, there remains many acres that the rain will have added yield to, or water has moved on and off fairly quickly so will have limited damage. Our customers have invested a lot in this year’s crop and while we feel desperately for those significantly impacted, we hope from here there can be some reprieve as we head into harvest, to get the crop off and hopefully allow significant volumes of milling quality wheat to be stripped,” said Mr White.  

Nutrien standing shoulder-to-shoulder with agricultural communities impacted by the historic flooding event 

“For anyone in the direct firing line of this weather event, it’s a very distressing situation, with homes, businesses and crops inundated with water,” Robert Payne, Nutrien Ag Solutions Region Manager - North East. 

“The timing of this weather is not ideal on the back of what has already been a very wet year. With the Winter crop approaching or in the middle of harvest, country is not trafficable so sowing of Summer crops is being disrupted and livestock movement in some areas is impossible. 

“Many farmers in these regions have not been able to access some areas of their property to check on the conditions of their livestock, crops and infrastructure like homes and sheds, so it’s difficult to assess the full impact at this early stage. 

“I do want to make a special mention to our teams in northern New South Wales, in Moree, Narrabri and Wee Waa – many who have been personally impacted by the recent flooding yet have still made time to support their local community with sandbagging efforts as floodwaters rose in town. I know there’ll be a big clean up in these areas in the coming months and Nutrien will be there every step as we clean up, replant and recover from this weather event,” said Mr Payne. 

Pictured: Flooding at Moree

Safety-first, always 

Mr White and Mr Payne are reminding everyone to stay safe and be extra cautious on the roads. 

“For those that are travelling, please be careful. Many roads have been severely damaged with large potholes, sections missing altogether, broader creek crossings and water over the road still presenting a danger to motorists. Flood threats remain very real and need to be taken very seriously, even when we have blue sky,” said Mr White and Mr Payne. 

Click here for current weather warnings. 

Report displaced livestock to the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline: 1800 814 647