Australian Wheat Output Reduced
With much of southeastern Australia returning to drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Monday lowered the country’s total wheat production forecast for 2008-09 to 20.15 million tonnes, down from the previously forecast 21.6 million tonnes. The FAS also lowered the total barley production forecast for 2008-09 to 7.013 million tonnes, down from the previous forecast of 7.875 million tonnes. The FAS said there remains significant scope for further reductions in forecast production for both wheat and barley.
Despite very low or no rainfall for the month of August in southeastern Australia, many winter cereal producers in these regions had hoped for at least average or above average rainfall during the crucial period of late September and early October, the FAS said. This did not occur however, and the winter cereal producing regions in Western Victoria, Australia and Southern New South Wales, Australia are expecting a very poor harvest with many crops cut for hay or abandoned altogether.
One South Australia farmer, Fred Maynard, says the region has had only 152 millimetres of rain this year, compared to the average of 355mm, and the situation has been made worse by the recent hot temperatures and strong winds.
Mr Maynard says with the deregulation of the wheat market, selling this year's crop is even more of a challenge. "We're lost actually, we don't know where to sell, what to do, anything," he said.
Despite very low or no rainfall for the month of August in southeastern Australia, many winter cereal producers in these regions had hoped for at least average or above average rainfall during the crucial period of late September and early October, the FAS said. This did not occur however, and the winter cereal producing regions in Western Victoria, Australia and Southern New South Wales, Australia are expecting a very poor harvest with many crops cut for hay or abandoned altogether.
One South Australia farmer, Fred Maynard, says the region has had only 152 millimetres of rain this year, compared to the average of 355mm, and the situation has been made worse by the recent hot temperatures and strong winds.
Mr Maynard says with the deregulation of the wheat market, selling this year's crop is even more of a challenge. "We're lost actually, we don't know where to sell, what to do, anything," he said.
