GROWERS know better than most that often the weather calls the shots. Climate-related events in WA are becoming more erratic and harder to plan around. An increasing number of bushfires, floods, heatwaves, cyclones and droughts are expected across the state. For growers, and the businesses that depend on them such as retailers and food venues, that means real impact on crops, supply chains and in many cases, the bottom line.

The risk to businesses, particularly those in agriculture, tourism, events and construction, has led to the Western Australian Government fully funding a new Climate Ready program, to help businesses plan for climate change.

By planning ahead before disruption hits, businesses can recover faster, minimise losses and stay competitive.

The Climate Ready program is being delivered around Western Australia by the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC).

It's tempting to think climate risk is only a problem for businesses in flood or bushfire-prone areas. However, every WA business is likely to feel some effect of a changing climate, whether that's a direct hit to crops or a knock-on cost somewhere else in the supply chain.

For growers, the impacts can be direct and immediate. Intense hail and storms in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt in November 2025 wiped out vast amounts of crops, with the flow-on losses for the businesses that rely on that produce. Drought and unpredictable rainfall can shift the timing of a season altogether, impacting business operations. WA's wildflower season is one example, where dry conditions mean less wildflowers in bloom, while unpredictable rains can lead to earlier or later blooms than expected, impacting tourism, accommodation, travel and hospitality businesses.

WA's economy is highly interconnected, so while the state covers more than 2.5 million square kilometres, a climate event in one region can ripple through to growers and grower-dependent businesses hundreds of kilometres away — or even the next state. For example, recent flooding in South Australia closed the major east-west rail line that carries around 80 per cent of interstate supplies into WA. A disruption far away, but with very real consequences for WA businesses.

Some other examples of climate related events that can disrupt supply chains include:

• Droughts can impact agricultural production and water availability. If you run a food-related business, some of your key ingredients may become scarce or unavailable when you need them.

• Heatwaves that can affect equipment performance, product quality and even employee health and productivity. Extreme heat may spoil stock that would normally be supplied to your business or create workplace hazards for employees working outside.

• Bushfires can lead to road closures or damage to infrastructure. If your business relies on goods being transported through affected areas, delays could leave you short of stock.

• Cyclones can similarly damage infrastructure, roads and production facilities. They can also disrupt ports and shipping lanes, meaning products or supplies order from other areas of the world could be delayed or unavailable for extended periods.

• Severe storm and hail can ruin crops, infrastructure, vehicles and equipment. Storm events can put an entire harvest at risk, having a direct effect on the businesses that rely on that produce.

You can't predict exactly which climate events will affect your business or the supply chain you rely on, but there are steps you can take now to build a more resilient business.

Start by thinking about the critical risk areas for your business such as transport infrastructure, regional production, and energy networks. Consider how disruptions in these areas could create risks, and how you might protect against potential problems such as stock shortages, delivery delays, issues with product quality or increased supplier costs related to increased demand.