The former Coalition government initiated a horticultural program to help fruit growers construct netting above their orchards to protect crops from hail damage.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell told parliament on February 7 about a hailstorm prior to Christmas last year which affected growers in the Tatura, Ardmona and Bunbartha areas.
“The hailstones were so big that they smashed the sides out of the growing pears and apples,” Mr Birrell said.
“That has caused devastation for orchardists and some real difficulties for the economic drivers of my region.
“I think supermarkets and consumers have a role to play in that there is some fruit that, whilst it has some small damage, still tastes great.”
Growers are eligible for up to 50 per cent of the cost of the professional installation of permanent netting up to a value of $150,000.
Mr Birrell said there were remaining funds from the program, and he had written to the agriculture minister to expand the program.
According to government websites, the funds have been used up in Victoria and NSW and a spokesperson for Agriculture Victoria said future rounds for the netting program had not yet been announced.
“The program has offered 142 grants in total to date, with successful applicants receiving up to $150,000,” the spokesperson said.
Agriculture Victoria said affected farmers could still take advantage of other assistance being given.
“Growers impacted by floods and storms, including hail, are encouraged to access support through the Victorian Flood Recovery Package,” the spokesperson said.
Fruit Growers Victoria chief executive officer Michael Crisera said only $6 million of the $11.2 million had been used up by the grant due to farmers’ financial constraints.
“This is because farmers are not profitable enough to afford the dollar-for-dollar cost,” Mr Crisera said.
“It’s been pretty tough going for the past two to three seasons.
“It’s been a challenging market post-COVID already because the country had been locked down for so long.
“This has impacted pricing and supply.”
Mr Crisera said a mini tornado on December 22 ‘wiped out’ entire blocks of fruit trees after a severe hailstorm took place on Melbourne Cup Day.
“Some growers have been quite severely impacted by these events and so there’s a lot who will look at available concessional loans.”
Tatura apple and fruit grower Daniel Kezerle took full advantage of the netting subsidy after last year’s storms, installing netting over 7ha of his 90ha orchard.
Five hailstorms hit Mr Kezerle’s orchard last year, causing severe damage.
“The netting saved us from the Christmas one,” Mr Kezerle said.
“The Melbourne Cup day storm wiped us out however.
“There were three more storms severe enough to do damage.”
The family enterprise has been operating for 45 years and Mr Kezerle said hailstorms had increased significantly over time.
“These are catastrophic,” he said.
“We have never experienced anything like this and I have spoken to people who have been in the industry for over 70 years and they have never seen anything this severe.”
Mr Crisera said there was no clarity on when the next round of netting support would begin.
“But there is still funding,” Mr Crisera said.
The Victoria Flood Recovery Package grant applications close on Sunday, April 30.
Further information can be found at: https://www.vic.gov.au/2022-flood-recovery
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