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| western australia
» Widespread rainfall in April provided some optimism for the winter cropping season in Western Australia. However, below average rainfall in May across the grains belt means conditions have deteriorated quickly throughout most of the state.Timely rainfall in the Esperance and Great Southern regions means that prospects there are better than in the central and northern parts of the grains belt, where conditions are poor. » The northern part of the Western Australian grains belt had a poor start to last year’s winter cropping season also. Although some crops have been dry sown, it is likely that the area sown to winter crops will be below average in this region. In the central grains belt, conditions have been variable; however, some crops have been dry sown. The optimal time for planting crops in Western Australia is between May and mid-June. If rainfall is significant, growers can still plant winter cereal crops up to early July. » Total winter crop area is forecast to increase by 2 per cent to 6.23 million hectares in 2007-08. Despite the increase, winter crop area is still well below the longer term average for Western Australia. Over the previous ten seasons the area sown to winter crops in Western Australia was over 7 million hectares. The small area reflects the poor seasonal conditions in most regions. » The area sown to wheat is forecast to increase by less than 3 per cent to 4.1 million hectares in 2007-08, one of the smallest areas in the past ten seasons. Assuming a return to average yields, wheat production is forecast to be around 7 million tonnes in 2007-08, 2 million tonnes greater than in the previous year. » Barley area is forecast to be 1.15 million hectares in 2007-08, an increase of 80 000 hectares over the area in 2006-07. The slight improvement in the area sown to barley and a return to average yields is forecast to result in barley production increasing by 590 000 tonnes. » The area sown to canola id forecast to be 400 000 hectares in 2007-08, the same as was planted last season. Canola yields in 2006-07 were very much below average at 0.9 tonnes per hectare. In 2007-08, assuming yields return closer to historical averages, canola production is forecast to increase by around 32 per cent. » The area sown to lupins is forecast to decline by 50 000 hectares in 2007-08. This reflects the poor seasonal condition being experienced in the northern grain belt, where most of the lupins are produced.
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