May 31, 2010

Rain stalls northern plantings in Australia

The problem facing Australian grain producers is that most of the Darling Downs, western Queensland and Goondiwindi regions have not had sufficient rain to completely plant the intended area.

In Central Queensland the situation is a little brighter with above 80% of intended area already planted to wheat and chick peas. In southern Queensland, the areas that have more subsoil moisture have seen a bigger plant to chickpeas than normal.

Areas around Roma, Meandarra and Condamine have faired reasonably well and about 60% of intended area has been planted.

A number of growers have hit a crossroad as they are trying to make the decision on what to do should there be some rain in the next couple of weeks. It is not too late to plant wheat but growers have been mentioning that they are already thinking of switching into summer crops.