February 20, 2012

Australian summer grain yield estimates up 18%

Crop forecast for most of Australia's summer crops remain favourable despite the recent flooding events in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, according to the latest Australian Crop Report by a local agricultural bureau.

The report was released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

While the report concedes that flooding will lead to localised losses and downgrading in crop quality, regions unaffected by flooding are expecting above average yields due to greater than normal rainfall and favourable soil moisture levels. As a result, total summer crop production in Australia is forecast to reach 5.4 million tonnes in 2011-12, an 18% rise from the previous financial year. Behind this increase is an anticipated 20% rise in cotton production, to a record 1.1 million tonnes, while grain sorghum (2.3 million tonnes) and rice (923,000 tonnes) production is forecast to improve 13% and 27%, respectively, over the same period. 

Winter crop production is also set to increase in 2011-12, with ABARES forecasting a total of 45.4 million tonnes.  Wheat production is expected to jump 6% to a record 29.5 million tonnes for the year, while barley and rapeseed production is likely to reach 8.6 million tonnes and 2.8 million tonnes, respectively.