western australia Rainfall in the winter months was below average across the grains belt of Western Australian. However, conditions in the southern and central regions have been better than in the northern districts. Given that crops were generally sown late, a favorable spring will be critical for crops in all regions to reach their current potential. In early September, good rainfall was received across the majority of the grains belt, which improved crop conditions. The poor start to the winter cropping season in the state is estimated to have resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in the area sown to winter crops. The area sown is likely to have been lower in all regions. However, the largest decline is expected in the northern part of the grains belt. Reflecting the poor start to the season and continued dry conditions, total winter crop production is forecast to be 8.4 million tonnes in 2006-07, compared with 14.3 million tonnes in the previous season. Wheat production in 2006-07 is forecast to decline by around 3.7 million tonnes from the 2005-06 crop. Reflecting the poor start to the season, continued dry conditions and the variability between regions, yields are forecast to be below the long term average. Wheat yields in Western Australia are forecast to be 1.45 tonnes per hectare, a 20 per cent decline from yields achieved in 2005-06. The area planted to barley in Western Australia is estimated to have fallen by 18 per cent in 2006-07 compared with the previous season. This is the lowest area sown to barley in Western Australia in the past five years. Barley yields are forecast to be below the long term average and production is forecast to decline by 886 000 tonnes in 2006-07. Canola yields in Western Australia are forecast to be 0.63 tonnes per hectare compared with a ten year average of 1.10 tonnes per hectare. The area sown to canola is estimated to have declined by 9 per cent, reflecting the continued dry conditions. It is forecast that 251 000 tonnes of canola will be produced in Western Australia in 2006-07, 60 per cent less than in the previous season. The area planted to lupins in Western Australia is estimated to have declined by 46 per cent and production is forecast to be 77 per cent lower at 210 000 tonnes in 2006-07. This is the lowest production of lupins in Western Australia for over two decades. Western Australia winter crop estimates,  2006-07 Production change from Area s Yield f Production f 2005-06 000 ha t/ha kt % Wheat 4 000 1.45 5 800 -39 Barley 1 070 1.63 1 744 -33 Canola  400 0.63  251 -60 Lupins  350 0.60  210 -77 s ABARE estimate f  ABARE forecast. download excel data