Australian Crops Revised Mostly Lower

Australian crop production for 2009/10 has been revised slightly lower for wheat and barley, although a tad higher for canola by ABARE.

"Total winter crop production in 2009-10 is estimated at 35.2 million tonnes. This is a downward revision from ABARE’s December estimate, largely reflecting a fall in crop yields and production estimates for both South Australia and Victoria. This is as a result of the heatwave conditions experienced in late 2009 which was immediately followed by heavy rainfall," they say.

"Of the major winter grains, wheat production is estimated at 21.7 million tonnes in 2009-10, a slight downward revision from ABARE’s December estimate. Barley production is estimated at 8 million tonnes in 2009-10, slightly down from the 8.3 million tonnes estimated in December. Canola production is estimated at around 1.9 million tonnes, higher than the 1.8 million tonnes estimated in December," they add.

The summer grain cropping area is also seen lower in the coming year. "Total summer crop area in 2009-10 is estimated to be around 845 000 hectares, a reduction of 27 per cent from 2008-09 and a downward revision from ABARE’s December 2009 forecast. The area planted to grain sorghum is estimated to have declined as a result of the
hot and dry conditions in the main planting window prior to Christmas 2009 that restricted plantings, particularly in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales," say ABARE.

"The total area planted to grain sorghum is estimated at 429 000 hectares in 2009-10, which is 43 per cent below the area planted last year," they conclude.