August 15, 2006

Winter grains production may fall 50 percent in West Australia this year

Forecast production of winter grains in Western Australia state remains in a range of 6 million tonnes to 9 million tonnes, despite recent light rains, a spokeswoman for storage and handling concern Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd, or CBH, said Tuesday (Aug 15).

If the lower level of CBH's estimated range comes to pass, production could fall by more than half from an actual 12.6 million tonnes last crop year ended Mar 31, of which 70 percent was wheat.

The rains stopped the production estimate declining further rather than pumping up projections, the spokeswoman said, in effect reiterating comments made in mid-July.

The situation in much of the northern half of the state's winter cropping areas remains "pretty dismal", with farmers unlikely to sow crop if they do receive rains given the late stage of the season, she said.

In a familiar pattern, the rains Monday were heaviest in west coastal areas and tapered off sharply as the weather system moved east, official data showed.

CBH is still receiving responses from growers to an annual planting survey, the results of which will be available by the end of the month, she said.

A large area around the southeast growing district of Esperance and along the south coast has received good rains and is expected to yield well.