CENTRAL Victorian farmers are hoping for rain at the weekend and next week to lessen the impact this week’s hot weather.
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Crop farmers have reported some crop damage but are confident of no significant impact on their yield after the mercury hit the low 30s in some parts of the region.
Raywood farmer Tim Demeo said 20 millimetres of rain in the upcoming week would ease the impact of last week’s hot weather.
“I don’t think we’ll lose any yield potential if we can get a significant rain in the next week,” he said.
“Certainly it would be better if it wasn’t as hot and windy as Thursday, but at the moment it looks like we have not lost a lot of yield potential.”
Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said the temperature had topped 32 degrees around Pyramid Hill on Thursday.
The crop, wool and prime lamb producer said farmers around the area had reported wilting of crops.
“It’s certainly been pretty hot,” he said.
“Canola flowers start to drop off 30 degrees so it will impact on yield a bit.”
Mr Tuohey said good rain next week would lessen the effect of the heat.
“If we get that it probably won’t be too bad (but) we don’t want any more hot days, that’s for sure.”
Avonmore crop farmer Mike Mullane said he was also waiting for a downpour.
“They’re still hanging on all right, but we are very much waiting for the rain,” he said.
“There won’t be a lot of damage if we get some rain soon.”
Mr Mullane said the season had gone well so far heading into harvest.
“It’s been a good season so far except for the last couple of days,” he said.