south australia

After a promising start to the season, prospects in South Australia declined throughout the winter cropping season. Growing season rainfall was either very much below average or the lowest on record in almost all districts, with the exception being parts of the far west coast. Conditions in August–October were particularly bad, where lack of rainfall was combined with high temperatures and frequent frosts, putting additional stress on crops.

Winter rainfall varied from below average in parts of the Eyre Peninsula to very much below average in most other areas. Much of the south east had the lowest winter rainfall on record. Extreme weather conditions throughout October, with above average maximum temperatures, record low rainfall and widespread frosts, caused further crop failure, particularly in canola and pulses.

Despite the severe conditions, the yield potential of cereal crops seems to have stabilised. Harvest is nearing completion and, while yields have been extremely variable, they have often been better than expected, particularly for crops that were sown early.

The total area planted to winter crops in South Australia is estimated to have been 3.63 million hectares, with production estimated to be 2.34 million tonnes in 2006-07, a 67 per cent reduction from 2005-06, reflecting the poor season.

Area planted to wheat in South Australia is estimated have been only 2 per cent lower in 2006-07 at around 2 million hectares, reflecting the early start to the season, combined with a much improved outlook for wheat prices at the time of planting. However, total South Australian wheat production is estimated at 1.2 million tonnes, 66 per cent less than in 2005-06.

The area planted to barley in 2006-07 is estimated to have been 19 per cent lower than in the previous year, at around 1.1 million hectares, reflecting the dry start and relatively more favorable wheat prices. The smaller area planted and well below average yields mean that barley production in 2006-07 is estimated to be 850 000 tonnes, 68 per cent decline from 2005-06.

The area planted to canola in South Australia in 2006-07 is estimated to have been similar to last year’s, at around 150 000 hectares, reflecting the early break in the season. However, as the season progressed, more and more canola crops failed in the extremely hot and dry spring conditions. In 2006-07, total canola production is estimated to decline by 66 per cent to 75 000 tonnes.

South Australia winter crop estimates,  2006-07 Production change from Area Yield a Production 2005-06 000 ha t/ha kt % Wheat 1 980 0.61 1 200 -66 Barley 1 070 0.79  850 -68 Canola  150 0.50  75 -66 a yields are based on area planted. download excel data