Australia Weather News

Australia's cherry production is expected to halve this year due to cold weather and prolonged wet conditions.

According to the cherry industry's peak body, widespread rain may have wiped nearly $60 million off the national cherry harvest.

Predictions for an 18,000 tonne national crop have been halved after wet and wild weather interfered with pollination and downed trees in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Cherry Growers Australia president Tom Eastlake said there would be significant losses.

"If we get half the crop you could easily be looking at wiping out a base load of 60 million of the national crop off the books, I would suggest," he said.

The production areas hardest hit are the South Australian Riverland and Adelaide Hills, the Yarra and Goulburn Valleys in Victoria, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Young, Orange, Wellington and Mudgee in NSW, and also Tasmania.

Mr Eastlake said the conditions had led to trees under-performing.

"It's put trees under stress and created not ideal conditions coming into harvest, which has resulted in a potential low yield," he said.

"If people have done the right thing in the orchard this year, they would probably get a premium anyway because they have had that much rain. There is that much water under the trees.

"There is going to be some of the best quality fruit ever produced in Australia and that type of fruit always brings a premium."