Fears of a Victorian potato shortage after ‘once in 100-year disaster’

There are fears of a potato shortage after wild weather lashed the Ballarat region last week, causing millions of dollars of damage to crops.

Clarkes Hill potato farmer of 40 years, Rodney Guthrie, says the area endured hail and 150mm of rain.

“It’s one of the biggest disasters I’ve ever seen,” he told Stephen Quartermain and Emily Power, filling in for Ross and Russel.

“The hail stripped all the leaves and broke all the stems of the potatoes, and then the rain washed all the soil away.

“This has never happened before.”

Neighbouring farms in the region, which is one of the major suppliers to McCain, were also struck.

Crops were only about a third of the way through growing and Mr Guthrie says it won’t be clear for a few weeks whether they can be saved.

“We won’t know for two or three weeks to see if they come back,” he said.

“It’s a once in 100-year disaster, and we’re just going to have to wear it.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the devastating weather event