| Queensland |
 In early June 2008 good rainfall was received across much of Queensland’s winter cropping regions. In central Queensland rainfall ranged from 15 to 50 millimetres while southern Queensland received 15 to 30 millimetres across most areas. This is the first significant rainfall to occur across the Queensland grains belt since above average summer rainfall was received.
Much of the Queensland grains belt has full sub-soil moisture profiles, the result of above average summer rainfall in these regions. However, below average autumn rainfall in 2008 dried out the top soil. Throughout southern and central Queensland some crops were deep sown, particularly chickpeas, while other were dry sown. The early June rainfall provided growers with the moisture required to complete this cropping.
The area sown to winter crops in Queensland is forecast to increase by close to 60 per cent in 2008-09 to 1.2 million hectares, the largest area sown in the past eight seasons. Relatively high grain prices and good soil moisture profiles have encouraged the increase in area sown. Irrigated farmers in the St George and Macintyre Valley are also expected to plant winter cereals, taking advantage of the current high grain prices on offer.
The Bureau of Meteorology three month rainfall outlook for winter is for above average rainfall across much of the Queensland grains belt. Assuming this rainfall occurs, winter crop yield is forecast to be slightly above the 10 year average. Total winter crop production is forecast to be 1.8 million tonnes in 2008-09, a 57 per cent increase on the previous year.
Queensland wheat area is forecast to increase by 72 per cent to 1 million hectares, the largest area sown to wheat in the past eight seasons. Wheat production in Queensland is forecast to reach 1.6 million tonnes in 2008-09, 72 per cent higher than last year. |
 |
| Winter crop forecasts, 2008-09 - Queensland |
|
 |
|
area |
yield a |
production |
area change
from 2007-08 |
|
|
‘000 ha |
t/ha |
kt |
% |
|
| Wheat |
1 000 |
1.57 |
1 567 |
72 |
| Barley |
100 |
1.66 |
166 |
12 |
|
| a yields are based on area planted. |
|
|
The area planted to barley is forecast to increase by 11 000 hectares to 100 000 hectares in 2008-09. Barley production is forecast increase by 4 per cent in 2008-09 to 166 000 tonnes.
The area planted to chickpeas is forecast to fall by 14 000 hectares in 2008-09. Chickpea yields are forecast to be 1.5 tonnes per hectare compared with 1.3 tonnes per hectare in the previous year. Although yields are forecast to improve, total chickpea production is forecast to fall by 6 per cent in 2008-09.
Queensland grain sorghum production is estimated to have been a record 1.6 million tonnes in 2007-08. In southern Queensland both early and late sown sorghum crops achieved above average yields. However, yields for late sown crops were not as high, as a result of a lack of follow up rainfall since summer. Grain sorghum yields are estimated at 3.0 tonnes per hectare in 2007-08, compared with the longer term average of 2.4 tonnes per hectare.
Sunflower production in 2007-08 is forecast to be substantially higher than in the previous year, at around 31 000 tonnes. Sunflower production was above average in both central and southern Queensland. The area sown to sunflowers was around 20 000 hectares, five times the area sown in 2006-07.
Queensland is estimated to have produced 37 000 tonnes of cotton lint and 53 000 tonnes of cottonseed in 2007-08. Production is estimated to be 31 per cent less than in 2006-07 because of shortages of irrigation water and some flood damage in the Emerald region. With the exception of this region, better than average lint yields and fibre quality were achieved in most cotton producing regions of Queensland. |
|
| Summer crop estimates, 2007-08 - Queensland |
|
|
|
area |
yield a |
production |
production change
from 2006-07 |
|
|
‘000 ha |
t/ha |
kt |
% |
|
| Sorghum |
545 |
3 |
1 635 |
82 |
| Sunflowers |
20 |
1.52 |
31 |
932 |
| Cotton seed |
21 |
2.46 |
53 |
–31 |
| Cotton lint |
21 |
1.74 |
37 |
–31 |
|
| a yields are based on area planted. |
|
