January 12, 2011

Australian winter crops hit by floods

Winter grain crops in Australia's Southern Queensland has been all but destroyed by flooding, costing the industry about US$400 million.

Agforce grains president, Wayne Newton, said that any winter crops of wheat and chick peas that were not harvested will most likely be ruined.

He said it is also likely to have a devastating impact on summer crops of sorghum and cotton.

"It's certainly going to be reduced yield from some of the crops," he said.

"Some crops are totally drowned out and some have just been inundated," he continued, "If it fines up they'll probably bounce back to a degree but it all depends on how much more rain we keep getting."