GRAIN growers face hefty losses on the back of recent flooding at the end of the most expensive growing season on record, with as much as a third of the national crop hit hard by last week's heavy rain.
Buoyed by strong moisture levels and high prices at the start of the season farmers gritted their teeth and spent up on expensive inputs such as herbicides and fertiliser with a view to generating a good return on investment with strong yields at the end of the year.
Victorian grain grower and Grain Producers Australia southern director Andrew Weidemann said east coast grain growers were on the proverbial knife's edge, with the forecast for further massive rain events late this week and early next week a particular cause for concern.
He said while there was still likely to be a good volume of grain around based on historical averages, even with the flooding, the high costs meant farmers could ill-afford average or below average yields.
GPA chairman Barry Large said the organisation had been in contact with government officials on the matter.
"We'll be writing to Agriculture and Emergency Management Minister, Murray Watt, and other relevant federal ministers to make sure they are aware of these issues, and the impact this will also have on our communities and on safety," Mr Large said.
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