CANEGROWERS is reporting 100 per cent of the crop is damaged to varying degrees in Proserpine, including a projected 25% in sugar production this season.

AgForce CEO Charles Burke said beef and grain producers were still assessing the damage, and continued flooding was likely to have further major impacts on properties in central and south-east Queensland.

“Beef producers in the Clarke Creek and Lotus Creek region on the old highway between Mackay and Rockhampton were particularly hard hit with a metre of rain falling in just over 24 hours,” Burke said.

“Farming families in the region have never seen water levels like it, and we’ve had reports of cattle and horses being washed away, families sitting on kitchen tables to stay safe and major damage to sheds and other structures, while all the local bridges and crossings have been completely smashed.

“In the north, we’re hearing of significant property damage and trees down, while in the south-east, we know there are crop losses in the Beaudesert region but the full picture will take time to emerge with the flood still unfolding.

“It’s extremely difficult to get in touch with producers in all the different affected areas with many properties isolated by floodwaters, power supplies cut and phone lines still down.”

The Queensland Government deployed its ministers to all affected regions, and on Friday Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne convened the second meeting of the state’s Agricultural Co-ordination Group.

“The cyclone and its aftermath has inflicted widespread damage and work is under way in conjunction with key industry representatives to help us understand the full impact on producers,” Byrne said.

“The Agricultural Co-ordination Group raised the issue of the emotional and social welfare of primary producers and that is a top priority of the Palaszczuk Government.

“Community Recovery Hubs have been established in Bowen and Mackay and as communication infrastructure is restored, I urge anyone distressed by their situation to seek assistance.”

Queensland Farmers’ Federation president Stuart Armitage said although the initial wind impacts of Cyclone Debbie have passed, the threat to farmers from localised and extensive flooding was far from over.

“The immediately affected region has felt the full brunt of a category 4 cyclone. Although it is early days, the region is worth over $1 billion to Queensland’s agricultural production value so it would be fair to assume that the damage will be at least hundreds of millions of dollars,” Armitage said.

“Contact with farmers continues to be difficult as many properties remain isolated by flood waters and communication channels via landline or mobile phone are inconsistent.”

“It is essential that farmers continue to monitor their local situations as flood warnings have been issued for coastal catchments between Gladstone in Queensland and Bellingen in northern New South Wales.”

Producers can log on to http://www.farmerdisastersupport.org.au for information about how to access support networks.