Clouds gathering ... the WA wheat belt is suffering one of its worst ever seasons and farmers are paying a financial and personal price, writes LETICIA MAKIN.
AUSTRALIA may be the lucky country but it is also the driest and for Western Australian wheat farmer Kim Hasson his family's luck is fast running out.
The lack of rainfall has hindered the entire farming industry in WA, but for Mr Hasson, of Ballidu, 250km north east of Perth and his 66 year-old father, there is a particulary bitter harvest of lost income and lost hopes. “My father was thinking of retiring but he will see at least another year on the farm. Our situation is reflected most by this. We have really got nothing out of this year’s crop. We had very little to start with but we have done as much as we can,” said Mr Hasson.
“Now we just recover by spending no money, applying no major projects like building new fences and head to the bank for next year.”
The WA wheat belt, responsible for about a third of Australia’s wheat produce, has endured the driest June on record and the Grains Council of Australia has predicted this will cause the national wheat crop to fall about 5 million tonnes short of the expected produce for the season.
Western Australia Pastoralists and Graziers Association grain growers Chief Leon Bradley, himself a farmer from Bolgart, predicted that could be a conservative estimate.
“Crops are at least a month late and this means the rainfall cuts out before farmers can harvest their crop. Unless something freakish happens it will be too late for the north end to get the potential out of their crop,” Mr Bradley said.
"A significant percentage of the crop hasn't been seeded. We also know that of the crop that has been seeded a significant amount has not yet emerged from the ground. I would predict almost 40 per cent may still come," he said.
The wheat shortage is also likely to cause city-dwellers hip-pocket pain. An international grain shortage is threatening to blow out prices worldwide and at least one further rise in Australian grain prices appears imminent.
The projected annual outcome of about 8.6 million tonnes would be down eight per cent on last year and has surprised farmers after a promising summer rainfall season and an excellent harvest last year.
The infertile winter could result in a national crop of about 18 million tonnes or less, well below the five-year average of 21 million tonnes and massive shortfall on last year's big 25 million tonne yield.
The industry, renowned for its unpredictable nature due to weather conditions, causes major financial concerns for farmers, but Mr Hasson, his son Kim and Mr. Bradley refuse to believe their chances are shot.
“In 2002-2003 we had a devastating yield of 4.14 million tonnes. Last year we had a really dry start and then ended with the biggest winter crop on record harvesting 10 million. Each year we just have to hope for rain,” Mr Bradley said.
