November’s record heatwave in Southern Australia will have a drastic effect on next year’s citrus harvest, according to Citrus Growers of South Australia industry development officer Kim Thiel.
“That heat has done significant damage to next year’s crop,” he said.
But Mr Thiel said the news was not all negative for farmers.
“The crop will be significantly down but the fruit that remains looks very good. It looks big for this time of year and it looks clean,” he added.
From 7 November, the Riverland region endured 14 consecutive days of temperatures above 32oC, causing citrus trees in the area to drop a lot of fruit.
Last year the region produced around 80,000 tonnes of navel oranges, and according to Mr Thiel next year’s yield could be around half that, although the full picture will not be known until the new year.
“In some orchards, there will be crops that are not viable,” he said.
Around half of South Australia’s navel oranges are exported.
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