Uncertainty soars for growers as seeding begins and 10 regional stations revealed to have no diesel supplies

Uncertainty on fuel and fertiliser supplies is soaring amongst farmers as Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen reveals multiple stations across WA are without any diesel supplies. Among the list released by the Federal Government were multiple servos in the State’s regions, despite continual reassurances from both State and Federal Governments Australia’s regional areas are prioritised for diesel deliveries. WA Premier Roger Cook maintained that fuel supplies were secure, with ships arriving on schedule and fuel terminals well stocked. The woes that accompany the scarce availability of diesel and its rocketing prices are just one source of anxiety for the State’s farmers who are also grappling with fertiliser availability and price increases, and cyclone Narelle that raged part of WA’s northern and Mid West coast. York farmer Tony Seabrook said he had received “much, much smaller” amounts of diesel than what was ordered. “We’ve got about a third of the amount of fuel that we need to get the crop in the ground,” he said. “Our compound fertiliser; I’m assured we will get 75 per cent of what we ordered and we can eke that out. “But realistically, it’s the urea that goes on the crop afterwards that determines the yield — if someone said to me we’ll give you compound fertiliser to sell your crop, but you can’t have any urea later, I wouldn’t sell it.” Pastoralists and Graziers Association president and Kojonup grower Digby Stretch has begun seeding but is planning his operations around the availability of diesel and fertiliser, putting in back-up plans if he cannot secure input supplies. Murdoch University sustainable agriculture associate professor Hannahbeth Luke said farmers — and their hip pockets — were feeling the ripple effect across the supply chain from shortages and roadblocks for importing, exporting, and transporting goods. Wheatbelt farmers would be particularly affected as properties average in size between 3500 and 5000ha. “That’s a lot of land and crops to manage,” she said. “Electrification is one solution, but a piece of machinery can cost millions, so replacement of key infrastructure like this takes time — and it also needs to ensure that the technology can keep up. “Electric tractors are out there and practical to use in horticulture and vineyards — especially those with solar and battery systems installed, but the tech is still experimental for broadacre farmers.” She said farmers had told her 3.5 tonnes of wheat per hectare needed to be generated simply to break even this year — the rising price of ammonia compounding anxiety on bottom lines even further. “Farmers are under pressure from multiple fronts, and rising costs at this scale present another major challenge they need to deal with,” Dr Luke said. Nationals WA leader Shane Love warned the impact would last, as a result of disruption to seeding of crops. “I’ve heard of one farmer, at least in my area, who’s decided to park their stuff in the shed, machinery in the shed, rather than face the uncertainty,” he said. He has asked the Government for an urgent briefing on what was being done to prioritise fuel supplies to the Goldfields, Esperance and other parts of regional WA. “Our members have been inundated by people with concerns about their access to fuel that doesn’t seem to have slowed down to any degree,” Mr Love said. “Geraldton is also an area now which people are concerned about.” He predicted surging transport costs would hit shop shelves in country WA within weeks. “I’ve seen some indications of operators who are charging now fuel surcharge on their normal freight rates, which is quite substantial,” he said. “That must feed into prices on shelves eventually, but also what will feed into it will be the constraints on supply for fresh vegetables and fruit.” At a press conference on March 23, Mr Cook said the State Government had been working closely with suppliers to ensure the regions received their fair share of fuel supplies during the “fluid situation”. “I won’t hesitate to make the decisions that I need to make to get the fuel flowing to the community and the industries — particularly our farming industry,” he said. The regional stations that had no diesel left according to FuelWatch on Monday: