The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed a Victorian government committment to rid the Wimmera Mallee of its weather radar blackspot.
The Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce a $5 million commitment to building a Doppler weather radar station in the Wimmera, during a VFF forum at Wycheproof Golf Club this evening.
“This is the most significant investment in production infrastructure that I’ve seen in this region in my lifetime,” VFF vice-president David Jochinke said. “The farming community has been crying out for this project for years.”
Mr Jochinke said construction of the weather radar station meant a lot for grain growers, who’ve been unable to see when rain bands might sweep across their properties, while out spraying or applying urea.
“Finally we’ll be able to check the radar to see what rainfall is over the horizon, so we can make real time decisions based on real time information,” he said.
The Victorian Government’s $5 million commitment will be supplemented by a $3.25 million allocation from the Federal Government, which will also cover the radar’s running costs for the next 15 years - the life of the station.
Up until now farmers have faced having costly spray washed off plants, due to unseen rainfall events.
“Farmers could lose a large amount of money if they spray on the basis of a dry forecast only to discover it does rain and wash the sprays away,” Mr Jochinke, who farms in the Wimmera, said.
“Conversely they’ve struggled to time their urea applications, which need follow-up rain to wash it into the soil.”
“Having access to weather radar is also valuable in determining how much rain is in those rain bands and what impact it will have – even when it comes to applying fungicides to protect crops in the lead-up to rainfall that might trigger a disease outbreak.”
VFF Grains President Brett Hosking said growers have long recognised the need for a weather radar and are pleased to see the issue finally being addressed.
“VFF Grains members passed a resolution at our annual conference in February calling for a Wimmera weather station to ensure more accurate application of farming activities,” Mr Hosking said.
“Currently farmers in central and western Victoria have to use the weather stations in Mount Gambier and Mildura and effectively ‘guesstimate’ what conditions will be in their area.
“This is an important investment for farmers and for regional and rural communities, and will close what is currently effectively a ‘black hole’ in the weather information system.”
