Lower crop production forecast in parts of Australia

Rain in January and February in Queensland and northern New South Wales has improved the yield potential for summer crops, but overall area planted and production is forecast to be lower than last season, commented Paul Morris, ABARE’s deputy executive director on releasing the latest Australian crop report.

In the February issue of the report, Morris noted that prior to Christmas 2009, the area planted to summer crops was considerably down on recent years. Although the rains came too late for any major additional plantings in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, further sorghum plantings are likely to occur in central Queensland.

Despite higher than average yields and some additional plantings, summer crop production is forecast to fall to around 2.4 million tonnes, which is 36% less than the previous season and will be the smallest summer crop since 2006-07. Overall, summer crop plantings are forecast to fall by 27% to around 845 000 hectares in 2009-10.

The total area planted to grain sorghum is estimated to have fallen to 429 000 hectares, the smallest area since 1992-93. Grain sorghum production is forecast to be around 1.3 million tonnes, around 47% of what was produced in 2008-09.

An increase in the allocation of irrigation water has resulted in the area planted to rice rising to around 19,000 hectares, more than double the 8,000 planted in 2008-09. Rice production is also forecast to increase to around 175,000 tonnes as a result of higher average yields following ideal growing conditions to date.

"Following completion of the winter crop harvest, winter crop production in 2009-10 is estimated to have increased to 35.2 million tonnes, a 4% increase over the 2008-09 crop," Morris said.

Wheat production is estimated to have increased by 3% to 21.7 million tonnes, barley by 5% to 8 million tonnes and canola by 3% to 1.9 million tonnes in 2009-10.

Source: World-Grain.com