Western Australian Crops Keep Shrinking

19/11/10 -- A report just out from the Grain Industry Association Of Western Australia paints a bleak picture for the 2010/11 harvest in the state.

They peg the wheat crop at just 3.58 MMT, down 9% from last month's estimate of 3.93 MMT, down more than 56% on last season's 8.25 MMT and the lowest output in more than forty years.

Barley production this year is seen at just 1.33 MMT, down 6% from last month's 1.42 MMT and 39% down on last year's crop of 2.19 MMT.

Rapeseed production is now forecast at 698,000 MT, down nearly 10% from last month's figure of 773,000 MT and 28% lower than last year.

The revisions, on the back of a devastating drought, are in sharp contrast to conditions further east where growers in South Australia, NSW and Victoria are expecting their best crops in years.