queensland Another dry start to the winter cropping season in 2007-08 resulted in very few planting opportunities throughout most of the southern cropping areas. However, central Queensland received good planting rains in early April, resulting in widespread planting, followed by favourable growing conditions. Rainfall in late winter–early spring across the southern cropping districts meant that those crops that were planted benefited from the late rains. Further rainfall in October benefited most areas of southern Queensland, where crops were still at the grain filling stage. With harvest nearing completion, there have been mixed results, with yields and quality varying significantly throughout the state. Widespread October–November rainfall across the central and southern Downs prompted significant sorghum plantings to go ahead, with the late November rainfall assisting the development of early sown crops and prompting further plantings to take place. With very promising sorghum prices being offered, any fallow area available is likely to be planted to grain sorghum. The area sown to winter crops in Queensland is estimated to have increased by 8 per cent in 2007 08, to 740 000 hectares. Total winter crop production is estimated at around 1.2 million tonnes, 38 per cent more than 2006-07, reflecting the increased area sown, combined with improved seasonal conditions. The area planted to wheat in Queensland is estimated to have risen by 5 per cent to 580 000 hectares in 2007-08. Total wheat production is estimated to increase by 30 per cent to just over 900 000 tonnes, reflecting average to above average yields in central Queensland and improved yields in southern Queensland following the beneficial spring rainfall. The area planted to barley is estimated to have fallen marginally, to just below 90 000 hectares in 2007 08, primarily reflecting a significant reduction in sowings on the Darling Downs, one of the state’s major barley growing regions. Production is estimated at 160 000 tonnes, a 68 per cent increase from 2006-07, reflecting a significant improvement in yields. Chickpea production is estimated to more than double in 2007-08 to just below 83 000 tonnes. Early rain in central Queensland allowed a significant area of chickpeas to be planted and growing conditions remained favourable throughout the season. Crops have now been harvested with above average yields and quality achieved. Due to the poor start to the season there were very few planting opportunities in southern Queensland. The area planted to grain sorghum is forecast to increase by 80 per cent to 540 000 hectares in 2007-08. The increased area reflects a combination of beneficial spring rainfall, high sorghum prices currently being offered and an increase in the area of fallow land in southern Queensland. The increase in fallow land available was because some of the previously planned winter area was not planted owing to the dry conditions. Assuming average yields, grain sorghum production is forecast at 1.2 million tonnes in 2007-08, more than double the level produced in 2006-07. Low water availability in the main water storage dams is estimated to result in the area planted to cotton in 2007-08 falling by 42 per cent, to 20 000 hectares. This will be the third consecutive year in which the area planted to cotton has fallen and it will be the smallest area planted in Queensland since 1980. queensland winter crop estimates,  2007-08 area yield a production production change from 2006-07 ‘000 ha t/ha kt % wheat 580 1.57 910 30 barley 89 1.8 160 68 a Yields are based on area planted. queensland summer crop forecasts, 2007-08 area yield  a production area change from 2006-07 ‘000 ha t/ha kt % sorghum 540 2.3 1242 80 sunflowers 8 0.83 6 83 cotton seed 20 2.26 46 –42 cotton lint 20 1.6 32 –42 a Yields are based on area planted.