HAIL has once again struck grape growers in Yenda on the back of an already unsatisfactory season.
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At about 6.30am yesterday morning, about five minutes worth of hail described as the size of a 10 cent piece caused damage to prune trees on the eastern side of Yenda.
The hail spells danger for vineyards, marking the flesh of prune crops and breaking and splitting grapes.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, a trough sitting over inland Australia triggered thunderstorms and isolated rainfall across Griffith, which neighbours Yenda.
Peter Cremasco, whose property is about 2 kilometres from the Yenda town centre, reported a 10 per cent damage to his crop.
He said the damage will cut into his break-even costs.
"10 per cent of an already very light crop is very annoying," he said.
"It's making a bad situation worse."
The growing season has already been affected by severe frost, a previous hail event and severe heat.
Mr Cremasco said the hail damage means he will have to respray his crops at a cost.
"All we're doing is dipping into our overdraft," he said.
He suspects the harvest this season will produce about three to four tonnes per acre down from about seven.
"There is a lot of disillusionment in the grape industry at the moment and mother nature isn't helping us," said Mr Cremasco.
"She's hit this area hard enough this season."
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a chance of a storm tomorrow with a maximum of 32 degrees for Griffith.
