Farmers robbed of 12 months of income by freak hailstorm want changes to disaster recovery arrangements

Fruit and vegetable growers in Queensland's Granite Belt have been left without income for a year after a devastating hailstorm, prompting calls to change disaster provisions .
Key points:February hailstorm wiped out a range of fruit and vegetable crops on Queensland's Granite BeltThe area affected was too small to be declared a disaster, but some growers are left without income for a yearThe growers say that with climate change, more hail events are expected, prompting rethinking of disaster provisions left unscathed.
President of the Granite Belt Growers Association, Nathan Baronio, said that anyone suffering from the storm saw their crop destroyed.
But the affected area was not large enough for it to be considered a disaster.
"We have about 20 acres [8 hectares] of strawberry plants that are outside [and] they literally look like someone had stepped on them with a hedge trimmer ", said Mr. Baronio.
"The night of the storm, there was so much hail that it was six inches high in some places."
Climate Change Considerations
Mr. Baronio said that with the changing climate, growers were expecting more severe hailstorms and wanted updated support to reflect the harsh conditions they were facing.
"There are going to be more of these hailstorms," he said.
"We need to look at how government disaster relief is coordinated to change with the changing times.
"I don't know of any other industry in Australia where a person can be expected to lose income for a year whole."
Some farmers lost 100% of their crops in the storm of hail. (Supplied: James Lister)
Southern Downs State Member James Lister said he had written to Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner about damage and applied for disaster recovery grants for the many small family growers affected. small businesses," Lister said.
"In my view, therefore, it is reasonable that disaster recovery grants should be made available to those affected."
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) held a meeting last week with affected growers.
Management disaster response and recovery According to Lisa Beach, although the area was not declared a disaster area, other forms of assistance were available.
" At this time, we have Disaster Individual Ownership Declarations available for producers - essentially it's the same as Category B assistance [which is available for disaster recovery in specific regions],” he said. she said.
"What this helps producers can be worth up to $5,000 in freight assistance for goods they need to recover.
"There are also two other components, one of up to $100,000 for an essential working capital loan and up to $250,000 in loans dealerships."

Agrotech Mar 1, 2023 0 49 Add to Reading List

Farmers robbed of 12 months of income by freak hailstorm want changes to disaster recovery arrangements

Fruit and vegetable growers in Queensland's Granite Belt have been left without income for a year after a devastating hailstorm, prompting calls to change disaster provisions .

Key points:February hailstorm wiped out a range of fruit and vegetable crops on Queensland's Granite BeltThe area affected was too small to be declared a disaster, but some growers are left without income for a yearThe growers say that with climate change, more hail events are expected, prompting rethinking of disaster provisions left unscathed.

President of the Granite Belt Growers Association, Nathan Baronio, said that anyone suffering from the storm saw their crop destroyed.

But the affected area was not large enough for it to be considered a disaster.

"We have about 20 acres [8 hectares] of strawberry plants that are outside [and] they literally look like someone had stepped on them with a hedge trimmer ", said Mr. Baronio.

"The night of the storm, there was so much hail that it was six inches high in some places."

Climate Change Considerations

Mr. Baronio said that with the changing climate, growers were expecting more severe hailstorms and wanted updated support to reflect the harsh conditions they were facing.

"There are going to be more of these hailstorms," he said.

"We need to look at how government disaster relief is coordinated to change with the changing times.

"I don't know of any other industry in Australia where a person can be expected to lose income for a year whole."

Southern Downs State Member James Lister said he had written to Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner about damage and applied for disaster recovery grants for the many small family growers affected. small businesses," Lister said.

"In my view, therefore, it is reasonable that disaster recovery grants should be made available to those affected."

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) held a meeting last week with affected growers.

Management disaster response and recovery According to Lisa Beach, although the area was not declared a disaster area, other forms of assistance were available.

" At this time, we have Disaster Individual Ownership Declarations available for producers - essentially it's the same as Category B assistance [which is available for disaster recovery in specific regions],” he said. she said.

"What this helps producers can be worth up to $5,000 in freight assistance for goods they need to recover.

"There are also two other components, one of up to $100,000 for an essential working capital loan and up to $250,000 in loans dealerships."