Australian Wheat, Barley, Canola Estimates 2009/10

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, or ABARE, are forecasting this season's Australian wheat crop around half a million tonnes higher than 2008's at 22 MMT.

Top-producing state of Western Australia will see output fall from by 1.4 MMT from 8.9 MMT to 7.5 MMT, with NSW weighing in with 6.8 MMT (unch), South Australia 3.2 MMT (up 0.9 MMT), Victoria 2.6 MMT (up 1.1 MMT) and Queensland 1.8 MMT (down 0.1 MMT).

Barley output this coming season will reach 7.7 MMT they say, up 0.9 MMT from a year ago, whilst canola production will be 200,000 MT lower at 1.7 MMT.

National Australia Bank Ltd say that this season's wheat crop will total 22.6 MMT after reasonable rains in early June improved crop prospects.

A strong cold front has brought heavy precipitation to the west with Gingin, north of Perth taking a huge 70mm of rain in 24 hours, their heaviest rain for eight years. South Australia has had two significant rain events this month with a third forecast this weekend, whilst NSW has also seen heavy rains in some areas.