16 June 2009 |
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| Optimism for winter crops following recent rain |
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| There is optimism regarding winter crop planting and production because of recent rains across the Australian grains belt, according to ABARE’s June issue of the Australian crop report.
“Rainfall in late May and early June was timely for those winter crops that had already been sown and provided an opportunity for remaining planting intentions to be realised,” said Phillip Glyde, Executive Director, ABARE, on releasing the report. The area sown to winter crops in Australia is forecast to be 21.9 million hectares in 2009-10, an increase of 1 per cent from the previous season. Assuming average yields, winter crop production is forecast to be around 34.8 million tonnes in 2009-10, around 1.6 million tonnes more than the previous season’s harvest. In developing these forecasts, a moving average yield was used that takes into account productivity improvements, farmers’ adaptation to changing climatic conditions, and recent trends and variations in rainfall and temperature. “The amount and timing of rainfall during the rest of the season will critically affect the extent to which these production outcomes are achieved,” Mr Glyde cautioned. The area planted to wheat in 2009-10 is forecast to remain above 13 million hectares for the second consecutive year. Total wheat production is forecast to be around The area sown to barley is forecast to decline by around 1 per cent, but production is forecast to increase by 13 per cent to 7.7 million tonnes in 2009-10, assuming average yields. The area planted to canola is forecast to increase in 2009-10. However, as yields are expected to decline from last season, particularly in Western Australia, production is forecast to decline by around 9 per cent in 2009-10. Mr Glyde noted that total summer crop production in 2008-09 is estimated at “Grain sorghum yields were above average for a second consecutive year, but did not match the 2007-08 record. Grain sorghum production is estimated to have been 2.3 million tonnes in 2008-09, compared with 3.1 million tonnes harvested in the previous year,” Mr Glyde said. Rice and cotton production were more than double the previous year’s production, but well below historical averages. |
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| For media interviews and comment, please contact Leanne Lawrance, acting section manager, Agricultural Commodities section, on 02 6272 2028 or email llawrance@abare.gov.au. To download the June issue Australian crop report, please visit the ABARE website www.abare.gov.au or phone Publications on 02 6272 2010. For general media enquiries, contact Maree Finnegan, Media Coordinator on 02 6272 2260, mobile 0417 689 567 or email mfinnegan@abare.gov.au. |
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