Australia's 2009-10 canola crop forecast 1.7 million tonnes

Canola output from an Australian crop to be harvested in late 2009 will fall by 9.6 percent on year to 1.70 million tonnes from 1.88 million tonnes in 2008, the Australian Oilseeds Federation forecast Monday (June 15).

Production is forecast to rise in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia but fall 30 percent on year to 800,000 tonnes in Western Australia, the biggest producing state, which accounted for about 60 percent of national output last year, the federation reported.

In Western Australia, the month of May was favourable for canola plantings in southern and higher rainfall areas, with between 25 millimetres (mm) and 100 mm of rainfall, which was below average but when combined with stored subsoil moisture sufficient for planting and germination of canola crops, the federation reported in a monthly crop report.

Production in 2009 in New South Wales is forecast to rise by 35 percent to 321,000 tonnes, in Victoria by 33 percent to 334,000 tonnes and by 10 percent in South Australia to 249,000 tonnes, with these increases generally supported by favourable rainfall, according to the Crop Report.

The federation represents producers, processors and end users.

Meanwhile, soy production in Australia from a crop still being harvested in some areas, tripled on year in 2009 to an estimated 101,500 tonnes, according to the report.

Sunflower production from a nearly completed harvest is down at 71,700 tonnes from an actual 73,000 tonnes previously, it estimated.

The federation's estimate will be used by the government's Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics in its crop report scheduled to be issued Tuesday, when export forecasts will also be updated.