Work under way to assess farm production impact

Published Friday, 20 October, 2017 at 10:33 AM

Acting Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Government staff are on the ground in central Queensland and the Burnett assessing damage to agricultural production caused by floods and recent heavy rain.

Acting Agriculture Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Department of Agriculture and Fisheries staff were meeting with farmers on their properties to assess the impact on crops and infrastructure.

“It is important that our people get out on the ground to gather accurate information so we can determine the most appropriate assistance for producers,” Dr Lynham said.

“We know heavy falls have caused localised flooding in the Bundaberg, Gladstone and North Burnett regional council areas in particular.

“Significant damage has been reported to vegetable and grain crops just prior to harvest in those areas where the rain has been heaviest.

“The scale of the rainfall is also expected to delay harvesting in some areas.”

Dr Lynham said officers were using the latest technology to try to speed up assessment to get assistance to producers as soon as possible.

“Flooded roads have hindered information gathering in some parts this week,” he said.

“Officers are using a rapid damage assessment app to record impacts and that will speed up the process.”

Dr Lynham said that while some producers were counting the cost of too much rain, the downfalls would be generally welcomed throughout a state suffering a prolonged and debilitating drought.

“Just over 66 per cent of Queensland remains drought-declared and some areas are in their fourth or fifth year of drought so this rain is making many cattle producers very happy,” he said.

“It is far too early to consider the long-term impacts on pasture growth in those areas which are worst affected by the drought, but these rains will at least fill dams on properties and soak the earth.”

Local drought committees will monitor falls throughout the summer and pasture growth before recommending any changes to drought declarations and revocations in April 2018.

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