» All major cropping areas in Victoria suffered from extremely poor growing season conditions in 2006-07. Rainfall throughout the growing season was very much below average, record high temperatures were recorded and frost damage occurred in some areas. As a result, total winter crop production in Victoria is now estimated at 1.4 million tonnes, 76 per cent below the previous year’s harvest.

» The total area sown to winter crops in Victoria in 2006-07 declined by only 2 per cent from the previous year. Rainfall in May allowed for reasonable plantings to occur in Victoria. However, conditions deteriorated quickly from that point onwards. Of the major crops produced in Victoria, wheat and barley yields were only around 30 per cent of average, while canola yields fell to around 15 per cent of average.

» The deterioration of seasonal conditions led to many of the crops being grazed or cut for hay and silage. In the south west of Victoria, it is estimated that 50–90 per cent of canola crops and around 50 per cent of cereal crops were cut for hay and silage.

» Wheat production in Victoria is estimated to be 650 000 tonnes, the lowest production in Victoria for at least twenty seasons. However, the 2006-07 drought affected harvest is more than double the wheat harvest of the 1982-83 drought. Improved management practices have helped maintain yields above the 1982-83 level.

» Similarly barley production is estimated to be 75 per cent lower than in the previous year, at around 510 000 tonnes. This is one of the lowest barley harvests in Victoria in over twenty years.

» The poor conditions have also ensured that Victorian canola yields were well below average. The crop is estimated to be 42 000 tonnes in 2006-07 around 88 per cent lower than the previous year’s harvest.

winter crop estimates, 2006-07  – victoria production change from area yield a production 2005-06 `000 ha t/ha kt % Wheat 1 250 0.52 650 –76 Barley 850 0.6 510 –75 Canola 213 0.2 42 –88 a Yields are based on are planted.