Frost-fighting choppers used for the first time on Hughenden grape farm

Dwyer Aviation Services has been providing frost protection for the Hughenden grape farm, flying at both dawn and dusk. (Supplied: Brooke Tudehope)

It is not uncommon to see helicopters mustering cattle in north-west Queensland, but now they are being used to prevent frost damage.

Marciano Table Grapes said the helicopters acted as an expensive fan to blow warmer air onto the crop in the Flinders Shire.

Farm manager Maritz du Plessis said after nearly two years of developing the green, red and black table grape farm, growers could not risk their vines.

"If we get frost now, we'll basically lose our season," he said.

"It's a real setback if frost were to hit now.

"We can still get vegetative growth afterwards, but we will miss our market window and the chance of having secondary bunches."

Frost was forecast over a broad area this week. (ABC Rural: Arlie Felton-Taylor)

Frost fans are used in other farming areas in Australia, but Mr du Plessis said the helicopters were the best option for the farm.

"It's more about access to helicopters and people who have got a licence to fly at night," he said.

"That was the biggest thing because we don't know when a temperature inversion is going to take place."

Mr du Plessis said the weather was warming up but he would keep the helicopters on stand-by for the next couple of days.

Richard Fairley grows a variety of herbs near Biloela and says this season has been excellent despite the freezing weather. (ABC Capricornia: Erin Semmler)

Herbs thriving in freezing conditions

The cold weather is not a problem for everyone — Biloela farmer Richard Fairly says his broadacre herb growing enterprise is in the best shape it has been for five years.

"They're growing really, really well this season and I couldn't be happier, so the cold weather won't bother us," he said.

Mr Fairly said the farm's refrigeration systems were warmer than the minus-two degree conditions in the packing shed.

Mr Fairley said this week's parsley and coriander harvests were excellent despite the unseasonal rain.

"It's a really good season for the valley, but long overdue," he said.

Chickpeas can be prone to frost damage, especially after flowering and podding. (ABC Rural: Eric Barker)

Chickpeas shiver through

Clermont farmer Brendan Swaffer said severe frost only had a minor effect on his cotton crop.

His chickpeas were also spared because they had not flowered yet.

"As soon as you get a frost on anything that has flowered, it just aborts the flower," he said.

"While losing the flower isn't so bad, it's when they lose their pods and they get frosted — well, then it has got to start again."

Mr Swaffer said his chickpeas would survive a few more frosts this season without downgrades to the pulse crop.