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Australian winter crops expand

Date:06-19-2008

Favourable weather conditions and strong commodity prices are expected to result in a 9.4% increase in Australian winter crop areas to 22.3 million ha in 2008/09. While lack of autumn rainfall in most states meant dry planting of winter crops, widespread rainfall in early June allowed farmers to complete their intended plantings.
Winter wheat plantings are forecast to rise by 13.2% to a record 14 million ha, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics (ABARE). Record areas are expected in Victoria and Western Australia, where plantings are set to rise by 6.6% to 1.6 million ha and by 26.8% to 5.2 million ha, respectively. The area in Queensland is predicted to rise by 72.4% to 1 million ha, the largest crop for eight years. Plantings are expected to remain flat in New South Wales and South Australia.
The ABARE expects canola plantings to increase by 16.4% to 1.2 million ha. Declines in New South Wales and Victoria should be offset by increased plantings in Western Australia and South Australia. The area in Western Australia is forecast to rise by 57.7% to 615,000 ha, while plantings in South Australia are expected to rise by 9.4% to 175,000 ha.
Australian winter crop areas (000 ha)1
Crop
2007/08
% change
2008/092
Wheat
12,345
+13.2
13,971
Barley
4,405
+ 1.8
4,484
Canola
1,061
+16.4
1,235
Oats
897
+ 9.8
985
Lupins3
454
- 6.2
426
Triticale
360
+ 4.4
376
Field peas3
293
+ 5.5
309
Chickpeas3
306
- 2.6
298
Faba beans3
133
-15.0
113
Lentils3
130
-18.5
106
Others
47
-12.8
41
Total
20,431
+ 9.4
22,344
1 as of June 11th; 2 forecast; 3 Pulse Australia estimate. Source: ABARE.
 
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