June 20, 2007

Better weather conditions to boost Australia's winter crop output

Better weather conditions are expected to boost Australia's 2007/08 winter crop output by 21 million tonnes to 37 million tonnes, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE).

However, ABARE warned that the extended drought throughout summer would cut major summer crops by 57 percent to 1.89 million tonnes.

Australian 2007/08 wheat production is seen to recover to 22.5 million tonnes from 9.82 million tonnes in 2006/07 when drought hit the country, ABARE said.

The 2007/08 winter cropping season has gotten off to a good start with autumn rainfall across much of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia states, ABARE said.