Dr Fisher noted that, "while South Australia has had a good start to the winter cropping season, all other states are waiting for additional rainfall to finish sowing".

Both Victoria and Western Australia received autumn rainfalls that enabled significant planting to occur, but lack of follow up rain has prevented the completion of intended plantings. Crops that were sown in these states are now starting to suffer from moisture stress. In the cropping areas of southern Queensland, no significant planting rainfall had been recorded by mid-June, resulting in a significant reduction in planted area.

Widespread rainfall over the cropping areas of New South Wales during the second weekend in June has allowed more crop to be planted, but lack of subsoil moisture in some regions will place crops in a vulnerable position if dry conditions continue.

"Assuming average yields, winter crop production in 2006-07 is forecast to decline by 11 per cent to 36 million tonnes", Dr Fisher said.
The area planted to wheat is forecast to fall by 5 per cent to 12.4 million hectares, with production forecast to decline by 9 per cent to 22.8 million tonnes. Barley and canola production are also forecast to decline, with the area sown to barley forecast to decline by 8 per cent to 4.3 million hectares and the area of canola remaining similar to the previous year.