May 26, 2008

Australia projects record winter crop plantings

Australia's weekend rains across Victoria and South Australia will ensure that all winter crop areas will be planted, the ProFarmer Australia reported.

However, follow-up rains will be required during the growing season to achieve decent yields, the group said.

The expected widespread rainfalls did not reach into NSW to any extent, leaving many croppers still waiting.

ProFarmer said that the planting window in NSW and Queensland is still wide open despite the delayed start, due to good subsoil moisture.

The group's latest grain grower survey, undertaken in early May, indicated record Australian plantings of wheat, barley and rapeseed this year.

Wheat planting intentions were up 13 percent nationally, to around 13.9 million hectares (ha), compared with the 13.1 million ha record in 2004-05.

A 15-percent rise was indicated for both NSW and WA plantings, 35 percent in Queensland and 8 percent in SA.