Fruit grower morale 'lower than ever' as wild hailstorm wreaks havoc in Victoria

A savage hailstorm that devastated orchards in the Goulburn Valley yesterday has devastated the morale of growers in the region, according to Fruit Growers Victoria.

Key points:Fruit Growers Victoria says that arborists will need funding support to stay afloatThe organization says some growers have lost income for the yearThe SES has responded to dozens of calls for help and 9,000 homes have lost power, which has largely recovered

It was the third hailstorm to significantly damage fruit crops this season.

Michael Crisera, Director of Grower Services of Fruit Growers Victoria, said the storm followed a similar path to the one that hit just days before Christmas last year.

"Growers who had nothing left , it almost wiped them out,” he said.

The storm left many growers facing a year without any income. (Provided by Shane Sali)

Most farmers picked their pears, but the apples were hit hard.

Mr. Crisera said arborist morale was "lower than it has ever been".

Nets catch hail over crops on a property north of Shepparton. (Supplied by Neville Christenson)

Loss could exceed $100 million

Wild weather has already destroyed about 200,000 fruit bins in the region, said Crisera, of worth $80 million.

Many growers have seen their apple crops 'wiped out.'(Provided by Shane Sali)

He said the cost of yesterday's storm could be up to $40 million in additional damage e t that some growers had lost their income for the year.

"When you get hail late in the season, you've spent a lot of money growing the crop of this season, so everything you spent is also lost - you...