Australia reaches 41,000 soy hectares planted

Australia's soy planting areas have increased to an average of 41,000 hectares.

At present, soy is predominantly grown in inland New South Wales, including the Riverina and north-west; in central, southern and coastal Queensland; and in coastal areas of northern New South Wales.

Soy produced for oil and meal have come under increasing pressure from imports and the quantities produced for this market have fallen in the past decade.

However, the quantities of high quality edible soy produced for culinary purposes have been increasing and now account for about 50% of all Australian soy production.

Soy production in the past few years has been curtailed by drought and shortage of irrigation water in inland areas and prices for competing crops such as sorghum and cotton.

However, in 2008/09, the area and yield have increased significantly due to timing of good rainfall in late 2008 and relative crop price changes. About 136,000 tonnes were produced in 2008/09.