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Crop forecast revised down
17 Sep 2008
Australia''s winter grains production is forecast to be around 35 million tonnes in 2008-09, close to 13 million tonnes more than the drought affected 2007-08 harvest. This latest winter crop forecast represents a slight downward revision on the 37 million tonnes forecast released by ABARE in June 2008. Phillip Glyde, ABARE''s Executive Director said that rainfall throughout the coming spring months is critical for these production forecasts to be realised. "Of the major winter grains, wheat production is forecast to be 22.5 million tonnes in 2008-09, around 5 per cent below our June 2008 forecast of 23.7 million tonnes, but well above the 13 million tonnes harvested last year," Mr Glyde said. Barley and canola production are also forecast to increase in 2008-09 to 7.8 million tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes, respectively. Total summer crop area is forecast to increase by 6 per cent to slightly more than 1.1 million hectares in 2008-09. The availability of irrigation water will remain a critical issue for rice and cotton plantings in 2008-09. However, both are forecast to increase in 2008-09 but remain well below historical averages. "The area sown to grain sorghum is forecast to decrease by 4 per cent to be around 767,000 hectares in 2008-09," Mr Glyde noted.
ABARE, 17/09/2008
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