August 24, 2006

Eastern Australian wheat areas to remain dry

A lack of moisture is expected to continue across Australia's eastern wheat and barley belt and further hamper crop potential, according to a three-month forecast released by Earth Satellite's Cropcast Wednesday.

"Australian wheat and barley establishment have been poor in many locations due to dryness over the past three months," said Cropcast.

However the forecasters said rains should return to normal in the west, where the wheat and barley crops have suffered most in recent weeks.

"Nearly two thirds of the crop area will be subject to stress during the key heading period that will occur over the next two months," said Cropcast.