Hail wipes out South Australian crops ahead of record harvest
Hail and heavy rain destroyed crops across South Australia's Mallee region just days before a record harvest was set to begin.
About 30 millimetres of rain fell in just 10 minutes at Kamora Park Poll Merino Station in Sandalwood near Adelaide. Hail up to a centimetre in diameter pummeled the property, stripping some crops to stalks.
One farmer estimates at least 50 per cent of the lupin crop, which she had spent about three years growing, was damaged. Anne Boughen, the farmer's aunt, calculated about a quarter of the overall 400-hectare crop was lost.
South Australian farmers were preparing for a record harvest after years of drought finally ended. Hail and heavy rain also affected the wider Mallee and Riverland, with 13 to 35 millimetres reported across the region.
- 30 millimetres
- Rain in 10 minutes
- up to 1 centimetre diameter
- Hail size
- at least 50 per cent
- Lupin crop damaged
- about 400 hectares, quarter of station
- Total crop lost
Why it mattersThe destruction wipes out crops just before harvest and threatens farm incomes and the nation's food supply.
AustraliaSouth Australian crop losses reduce the state's expected harvest and threaten farm incomes after a drought-breaking year.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
