January 9, 2007

South Australia's wheat crop less than half of 2006 levels

South Australia's wheat crop, whose harvest is near completion would reach 1.5 million tonnes, just 40 percent of output last crop year due to drought and frost, according to a crop report issued late Monday by Australia's Department of Primary Industries.

Figures from the Crop Report also paint a bleak picture of winter crops. The forecast set total production from winter crops at 2.95 million tonnes, down from actual output of 7.42 million tonnes previously.

New crop barley output is estimated at 1.04 million tonnes, down from 2.54 million tonnes previously, while canola yield is 77,300 tonnes, down from 224,100 tonnes.

Peter Fulwood, a senior consultant at the department who prepares the Crop Report, said the harvest was finished in most districts by mid December, except for a small area in the south-east.

A combination of drought and frost has seen crop yields among the worst experienced in some districts, and though cereal yields have been down about 45 percent on average, grain quality has generally been satisfactory, he said.

Many cereal crops nevertheless managed to perform remarkably well despite the extreme conditions, demonstrating exceptional water use efficiency and improved farming capability to cope with drought, he said.

South Australia contributed about 15 percent of the last crop year's national wheat production of 25 million tonnes, a ratio that appears to be holding up for the new crop.

Most of the state's production is slated for export.