February 10, 2009

Australia's 2008-09 wheat harvest is now estimated at 21 million tonnes, up from 20 million tonnes in November 2008, due to better yields, Australian Crop Forecasters (ACF) said Monday (Feb 9).

Yields were higher than expected in wheat regions, including the central and northern regions of Western Australia.

ACF estimates Western Australia to have harvested 8.9 million tonnes, up from the November estimate of 8.4 million tonnes.

The eastern state of New South Wales harvested 6.7 million tonnes, up from November's estimate of 6.4 million tonnes.

ACF also increased its estimate of South Australia's crop to 2.4 million tonnes from 2.2 million tonnes, but left its forecast for Queensland and Victoria states unchanged at 1.6 million tonnes and 1.4 million tonnes, respectively.

ACF analyst Gavin Warbuton said getting a 2009-10 harvest similar to the latest harvest would depend on rain ahead of a planting, as well as follow-up rain throughout the growing period.

However, dry weather could affect winter crops such as wheat if hot conditions continued until planting time, said Warburton.

The national crop is seen as the best in three years, following a 13 million tonne harvest in 2007-08 when drought devastated crops in eastern Australia.