Farmers in north west Victoria are counting the cost of a freak storm cell and 'mini tornado' that ripped through the region. Authorities say they're assessing damage to at least 450 farms after the weather ripped crops from vines, knocked over trees and flattened cereal paddocks. Grain grower Colin Hunt said it was fortunate his wheat and pea crops were insured, after hail destroyed nearly all of this year's yield. Mr Hunt said he had begun to harvest his wheat before the storm hit. "I'm not sure whether there's a harvestable amount [that] survived or not. I suppose you'd want 10 per cent to survive to bother harvesting it. "There's odd heads with a few grains left in them and a lot of loose grain on the ground. "The yield had been very good, in excess of what we had thought was there. We were well over two tonnes and on the way to three and it looked pretty good but it doesn't look like it now.

"It's certainly disappointing and there's always the pleasure of harvesting a nice crop so that's sort of denied to you and if you've got to go back over it now it's sort of a chore.

"It shouldn't affect next year except we will need to be on track to keep control of self-sown wheat and peas. "We will need to keep an eye on the paddock for mice numbers and keep on our summer weed program."

Dried fruit grower loses most of this year's crop, uncertain about next

Dried fruit grower John Hunt said he was concerned much of the region's recovery efforts had been focused on housing damage rather than agriculture. He said saving what he could for this year's harvest might jeopardise his ability to produce fruit next year. "I estimate around 70 per cent of the crop is lost and I have very few replacement canes for next year.

"Those who aren't insured have at least 12 months before they get an income because you only get your income once a year.

"I don't know where they will go people who are not insured. "People insured if they can get their insurance, like they should, should get through but it's whether we get a crop next year or not. That's what makes it the hardest."

Agriculture Victoria assessing farm damage

The Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources said it was assessing at least 450 farms for storm damage. Director Russell McMurray said the department needed to complete a comprehensive assessment of the storm damage. "We are looking at the potential damage to crops that is out there and also the economic impact to the community and to farmers. "Conservatively we are estimating we are going to have to visit or contact 450 farms. That may increase or decrease depending on when we get further information. "Some of the people I've spoken to [are] not sure whether their citrus trees are actually going to recoup from this or not. So some of this impact assessment may take longer, it may take three or four weeks.

"We understand that areas such as viticulture it will be potentially two years before they are getting back in to production.

Source - http://www.abc.net.au