‘Reality check’: Aussies issued grim warning

Australian consumers have been warned to brace for “dramatically inflated” produce prices following “substantial damage” to crops after Far North Queensland was battered by fatal floods.

Homes were left without power and submerged in floodwaters, while a bridge on the Bruce Highway was broken apart when Far North Queensland was hit by floods earlier this month. A woman in her 60s died in the floods in Ingham while an 82-year-old woman died just days later.

Supermarket shelves in the region were left partially empty in early February, with some stores even cut off amid the wild weather.

As the state cleans up Australians have been warned produce shortages could be on the cards moving forward.

AgForce Queensland general president Shane McCarthy said the damage to crops could be felt by consumers in the coming weeks.

“Substantial is one word I’d use,” Mr McCarthy told NewsWire.

“Quite substantial damage to crops that are in process, and now we’re starting to see a lot of damage and stock losses.”

He said sugar cane, banana and avocado crops were affected directly by the floods, while products could also be affected if they were unable to be put on the market on time due to road closures.

Consumers across the country could be affected by the damage, he warned.

“Depending on the size of what was affected it will definitely affect supermarkets,” Mr McCarthy said.

“It’s all supply and demand, so if the supply is not there the demand will go up.”

He said farmers would be beginning to gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage now, however the full extent would likely remain unclear for a few weeks.

It would also depend on what weather systems come in.

“With everything going to plan — and trust me, in agriculture, they don’t — we should start to know in the next week or so, but it’s just a matter of what the weather’s like,” he said.

“Most of the cane farmers can get out and around but it’s just a matter of the other farmers further west and assessing the damage — it will take a little while to assess the damage.”

Bureau of Meteorology community information officer Morgan Pumpa said flooding had eased, with a chance of showers over the next week but “not the significant totals we’ve seen”.

Farmers struggling from “back to back” weather events

Mr McCarthy said farmers were struggling as this wasn’t a “one season event”, but rather the area had experienced “back to back” weather events.

“We had a bit of a sizeable wet season last year that caused damage, that affected the sugar cane industry,” he said.

“Running into another season, possibly another failure of another crop it starts to add up after a while.

“Farmers are a fairly resilient bunch to start with, it’s the nature of the job, but even the most resilient people can be affected

“When you’re hammered down in your production it just starts to affect you not only financially but mentally as well.”

Rural Aid chief executive officer John Walters said Far North Queensland was a “critical” region in terms of fruit and vegetable production for both the state and the country.

“Some of the best produce comes from that area, there are highly productive farms that will have been severely impacted,” Mr Walters said.

“That will mean supplies of some product will be interrupted, and we know what that translates to.”

He said short supplies could lead to “dramatically inflated” prices on shelves.

“What a reality check that often represents for consumers who may be isolated and not understanding the role that farmers play when prices rise because of these events,” he said.

Farmers were now beginning to take stock of the damage and respond, Mr Walters said.

“We’re certainly having more people reach out to Rural Aid each day,” he said.

“They’re going from that survival mode now into switching over into recovery mode, and that really is what’s occurring in so many places at this time.”

He said it was a bit too early to tell whether supermarkets would be affected.

“But one of the biggest factors is just access to markets and being able to get produce from farms to supply chains, and I think that’s been one of the biggest challenges.”

However he said this would continue to be addressed as roads were increasingly reopened.

A Coles spokesperson said regular deliveries were now being distributed to stores to replenish Far North Queensland stores with the reopening of roads, while a Woolworths spokesperson said stores were receiving a “consistent stream of deliveries” following the reopening of the Bruce Highway, with 31 team members flown in to help Cairns stores restock.

Aussies urged to have a parma to help farmers

Rural Aid launched the “Parma for a Farmer” campaign in February to help farmers affected by natural disasters across the entire country.

Every parma meal sold across more than 350 of ALH Hotels will have $1 donated to Rural Aid across the entire month.

Mr Walters said having a pub meal for dinner was a “tangible way of demonstrating that your actions can make a difference”.

He said the funds would allow Rural Aid to support those impacted by the floods in Far North Queensland.

“Typically people do want to offer their help and support, and here’s a really great way of being able to do that,” he said.

“Go to the pub, have a parmi … have a wonderful meal, but know you’re supporting Rural Aid.”

Mr Walters also confirmed he was a “parma man all the way”, with the names parma and parmi consistently sparking debate across the country.

Disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 were activated earlier this month for eligible operators in Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah to assist with equipment repairs, stock replacement, loss of income and the continuity of operations.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the heavy rain and severe flooding had made it difficult for farmers, businesses and not-for-profit organisations to stay open.

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the loans would help farmers and small businesses get back on their feet.

“Our government will continue working with the Commonwealth to extend further relief measures where required,” Ms Leahy said.