May 26, 2008
 

Sorghum production in Australia's New South Wales nearly doubles

Production from the 2008 sorghum crop in Australia's New South Wales state will nearly double to an estimated 841,755 tonnes from an actual 425,620 tonnes in 2007, according to a Grains Report issued late Friday (May 24, 2008) by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

An estimated 181,465 hectares of sorghum are being harvested in the state this year, up from an actual 135,845 hectares previously.

Yields were well above the long-term average at 4.64 tonnes/hectare, the department reported. Some crop is still to be harvested in eastern areas of the north.

Long term official data shows New South Wales typically accounts for about 40 percent of national sorghum production with the balance from Queensland.

Sorghum is the major summer feedgrain grown in Australia, supplies of which have tightened sharply after consecutive winter droughts.