TEMPERATURES hovering between -1C and -5C across the lower half of the Wheatbelt last week has left some growers nervous about the potential damage which won't be realised until harvest.
Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) weather stations recorded an excruciating -4.9C in Hyden on Friday followed by a -3.3C the following night.
Bonnie Rock, Tammin, Kellerberrin, Bruce Rock, Pingaring, York and Wickepin also had temperatures from -1.8C degrees through to -3.1C.
This was one of the worst frosts experienced for the season, matched by a similar one in late August which coincided with the GWN7 Dowerin Machinery Field Days which already had growers concerned about the impact on crops.
One Hyden farmer, who declined to be named, said when he drove over his property on Saturday morning he instinctively knew he would be assessing frost damage in the next two to three weeks.
"A lot of areas were just white," he said.
"We were below zero for at least seven hours and I heard it got to -4.9C in other parts of the district so there will be a lot of nervous people around.
"We got a few touch-ups earlier on from frost but last weekend's was the worst for the year and you'd be worried if you had planted your wheat in early May.
"I think our wheat will be the worst because we had some big areas that were just white.
"But the extent of the damage will depend on planting times and whether we cop head frost or stem frost.
"Our canola is okay because it had finished flowering but we might have some barley that has copped a bit of damage, we'll just have to wait and see later on and we probably won't really know until we get into it (at harvest)."
Newdegate farmer Gary Guelfi saw temperature readings down to -4.8C at Hyden and Pingaring.
"But generally it was in the minus ones and twos elsewhere," he said.
"We were in that range and we got a bit of frost but it's too early to comment on what damage we got.
"We've still got wheat pushing out of the boot so I think the canola and barley will be the worst hit."
Kulin farmer Brendon Savage said it would be an excruciating wait to know how much damage there was in flowering wheat and barley crops.
"We had rain on the Friday before dark followed by frost the following morning which is generally a recipe for disaster," he said.
"I recorded -1.5C on the property at 6.30am on Saturday but it was a long period of cold during the night.
"And Sunday morning also was below zero for an extended period but not as bad as the previous day.
"It's definitely the worst frost event we've had for several years but I feel for the guys who copped the minus fours out at Hyden."
York grower John Seabrook said he was already anticipating some damage following a crop group tour last week where they inspected for frost damage.
"We haven't seen any stem frost but there's a little bit of head frost in the barley and some in the canola," he said.
"We think we are a bit more protected as the wheat is still in the boot which should protect it for now.
"At the end of the day there's not really a lot you can do about frost so we will just have to wait and see at harvest."
