Severe storms are predicted to batter the region as the Riverina braces for another round of wild weather.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, strong winds and even snow across southern parts of NSW.
As the weather front passes over South Australia and moves into the state, the risk of crop-crushing rain and hail has some farmers crossing their fingers.
Orchardist Ralph Wilson, of Wilgro Orchard in Batlow, said the impact of hail, if not prepared, is enough to "bankrupt" a producer.
"Storms are a problem for growing fruit because if you get hit by hail, it means that our price per kilo drops from, for example, $1.20 a kilo down to 14 cents a kilo for juice fruit," he said.
"One hailstorm can mean that you might have to see the bank, or sell the place because it is very expensive to grow apples."
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Mr Wilson, who has been an orchardist for about 40 years, has been forced to face the challenges of the region's current labour shortage and losing 15 per cent of his orchard to the Black Summer fires, during what has been a difficult two years for the region's growers.
Mr Wilson said it is better to be optimistic, but he can't deny the forecast is cause for concern.
"Everything is already wet and it's hard to drive around the orchard as we're bogging everywhere, and I'm worried the rain is only going to get worse," he said.
"We'd like to be out doing work, not sitting inside looking at rain and thunderstorms."
The BOM has also upgraded what was previously 'La Nina watch' to 'La Nina alert', and local producers are worried that the above average rain conditions will only cause problems during the harvest season.
Mr Wilson said if the rain continues from spring into summer, the quality of his apple and cherry harvests could be at risk.
"You do get more rots, so we have to put more fungicides out which costs us a lot more money," he said.
"We don't like doing it as we like to grow with minimal chemical intervention."
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