According to The Canberra Times, harvesting activities have come to an abrupt halt following flash flooding in the Mildura area during the peak of the picking season.
The extreme weather event brought nearly 150 mm of rain in just two days — an unprecedented level for the region — causing significant damage to crops. Large volumes of fruit are now deteriorating directly on the vines, raising serious concerns among growers.
Farmers, who were already in the most critical phase of the harvest, fear substantial financial losses. The excessive rainfall not only threatens overall production volumes but also compromises the quality of grapes destined for both export and the domestic market.
Flooded fields have made access to vineyards increasingly difficult, while the high humidity and water saturation have created ideal conditions for fruit to shrivel or rot before it can be harvested.
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The agricultural community in Sunraysia remains on alert as it assesses the full extent of the damage, in what was expected to be a strong production year but is now overshadowed by extreme weather conditions.
