Australia’s farm sector currently faces a double whammy from weather and non-weather related factors: a confirmed El Niño effect and surging inflationary pressures.

The Bureau of Meteorology says a strong El Niño is underway in late spring and into summer in Australia. This week it said:

Models indicate the current event is likely to become the strongest El Niño event on record, with reliable records dating back to 1950.

Models indicate the current event is likely to become the strongest El Niño event on record, with reliable records dating back to 1950.

The research division of the Department of Agriculture, known as ABARES, says the current El Niño could lead to lower spring rainfall in parts of Australia, but the impacts are uncertain.

These events have coincided with non-weather factors such as rising fuel and fertiliser prices caused by conflict in the Middle East, and ongoing inflationary pressure in the economy.

So, how will these various pressures affect prices of food in coming months?

Fruits and vegetables that are part of the regular diet of many households are likely to be affected, but to varying........

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