December 8, 2004

 

 

South Australia Harvest 60% Done, Rain Helped Some Crops

 

A harvest of winter grains in South Australia state is about 60% complete, with the outlook for the harvest a little better after rains in the first half of November, according to a crop report issued Tuesday by the state's Department of Primary Industries and Resources.

 

The outlook for the crop deteriorated sharply in October under the influence of hot, dry weather.

 

"Rainfall and mild weather early in the month (November) delayed harvest but helped grain fill in some late maturing crops," it reported.

 

Harvest has progressed rapidly since the onset of fine weather in the second half of November, it added.

 

"Yields and quality have been highly variable, but generally below average, with reports of some very low yielding crops and crop failure in some districts," it said.

 

Small size, light grains, especially in barley, have seen some significant downgrading of grain in many areas, it said.

 

The canola harvest is all but finished with yields mostly well below average, with low oil content, it said.

 

The department estimated total production this crop year at 5.3 million metric tons, up from an estimate a month ago of 5.1 million tons, but well down from a five-year annual average of 6.6 million tons and not quite three quarters the 7.3 million tons produced last crop year ended March 31.

 

New crop wheat production is forecast at 2.7 million tons, down from 3.5 million tons last crop year, while new crop barley production is forecast at 1.8 million tons, down from 2.5 million tons last crop year.

 

Most of this production is available for export.