Australian winter crop production to dip; wheat and barley to rise

Executive Director at the ABARES, Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds, explained: “Lower than average autumn rainfall significantly constrained planting intentions and uneven rainfall at the end of autumn led to a mixed start to the upcoming winter crop season.”

“The total area planted to winter crops is forecast to decrease by 4% to 21 million ha. This includes a drop in area planted to canola, chickpeas and lentils.

“A significant increase in area planted to barley is forecast, up 10% to 4.3 million ha.

“For the major winter crops, wheat and barley production are both expected to increase by 3% to 22 million t and 9.2 million t, respectively. Canola production is forecast t fall by 16% to 3.1 million t.

“Amongst other crops, chickpea production is forecast to decline 40% to 616 000 t and oats production is forecast to remain largely unchanged at 1.1 million t.”

With lower layer soil moisture at the end of autumn below to very much below average across most cropping regions in Australia, sufficient and timely winter rainfall will be critically important for crop development.

Winter rainfall for June to August 2018 is likely to be around average in cropping regions in Western Australia but below average in most other cropping regions.

Summer crop production is estimated to have increased by 13% in 2017–18. This was driven largely by increased sorghum and cotton production. Rice production is estimated to have been 631 000 t, a reduction of 22% from the previous year.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/dry-bulk/15062018/australian-winter-crop-production-to-dip-whilst-wheat-and-barley-is-set-to-rise/