| New South Wales |
 Dry autumn conditions have prevailed across most of New South Wales, particularly in the southern and central regions. There was no significant rainfall by the end of May, with below to very much below average rainfall reported throughout the state during that month. However, widespread rainfall in early June provided the moisture growers required for intended plantings to occur, particularly in the central west.
As a result of the dry autumn, many crops were dry sown or sown late as growers waited for rain. Despite the late break, the total area planted to winter crops in New South Wales is forecast to remain similar to the area planted last year, at around 6 million hectares. Assuming an improvement in yields on last year, winter crop production is forecast to more than triple to around 10.5 million tonnes in 2008-09.
The area planted to wheat in 2008-09 is forecast to remain unchanged at around 4 million hectares. In northern New South Wales, reasonable subsoil moisture and a favourable rainfall outlook, is expected to lead to an increase in yields. In central and southern New South Wales, in-crop rainfall will be critical because of the late start to the season and a lack of sub-soil moisture. Overall, wheat production is forecast to increase by around 5.6 million tonnes in 2008-09 to be 7.4 million tonnes.
The area planted to barley in 2008-09 is forecast to fall marginally to 1 million hectares. Barley production in 2008-09 is forecast to reach around 1.8 million tonnes, a 1.1 million tonne increase from 2007-08 production, reflecting a forecast improvement in yields.
The area planted to canola is forecast to decrease by 6 per cent in 2008-09 to 225 000 hectares, reflecting the late start to the season in southern and central parts of New South Wales. Assuming average yields, canola production is forecast to increase to 338 000 tonnes in 2008-09, a significant increase from the 44 000 tonnes harvested in the previous year. |
 |
| Winter crop forecasts, 2008-09 - New South Wales |
|
 |
|
area |
yield a |
production |
area change
from 2007-08 |
|
|
‘000 ha |
t/ha |
kt |
% |
|
Wheat |
4 000 |
1.85 |
7 412 |
0 |
Barley |
1 000 |
1.75 |
1 754 |
–1 |
Canola |
225 |
1.5 |
338 |
–6 |
|
| a yields are based on area planted. |
|
|
Harvest of the 2007-08 grain sorghum crop has been completed. Production is estimated to have reached just more than 1 million tonnes, a record for New South Wales. Above average summer rainfall boosted grain sorghum yields to 4.2 tonnes per hectare, compared with a 10 year average of 3.1 tonnes per hectare.
In 2007-08 cotton lint and cottonseed production are both forecast to decline by 60 per cent to 88 000 tonnes and 125 000 tonnes, respectively. In 2007-08, the area planted to cotton declined by 62 per cent to 41 000 hectares, as a result of lower water allocations. However, better than average lint yields and fibre quality have been achieved in most regions of New South Wales.
A lack of irrigation water for rice in 2007-08 resulted in the area planted falling to 2000 hectares, the smallest area planted since the industry began in the early 1920s. Despite the lack of water, the season provided favourable growing conditions, resulting in slightly above average yields. However, total rice production fell by 88 per cent, to around 19 000 tonnes for the 2007-08 season. |
|
| Summer crop estimates, 2007-08 - New South Wales |
|
|
|
area |
yield a |
production |
production change
from2006-07 |
|
|
‘000 ha |
t/ha |
kt |
% |
|
| Sorghum |
250 |
4.2 |
1 050 |
173 |
| Sunflowers |
28 |
1.54 |
43 |
189 |
| Cotton seed |
41 |
3.03 |
125 |
–60 |
| Cotton lint |
41 |
2.15 |
88 |
–60 |
| Rice |
2 |
9.65 |
19 |
–88 |
|
| a yields are based on area planted. |
|
