"Best harvest in years": ABARES

According to The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences' (ABARES) latest Australian Crop Report, winter crop production is set to increase across all states for the first time since 2007-08.

"Total winter crop production is forecast to rise by 16 per cent in 2016–17 to a record 46.1 million tonnes, driven by significant increases in forecast production in Western Australia and Victoria," says acting ABARES Executive Director, Peter Gooday.

He says a good amount of winter rainfall in most states have contributed to the positive outlook.

"In the eastern states, including South Australia, winter rainfall was average to above average and in Western Australia it was more variable but timely," he says.

"In some regions, particularly in parts of New South Wales and far southern Western Australia, yields could be constrained by waterlogging, which resulted from very high winter rainfall."

By category, wheat production is expected to increase by 16 per cent to 28.1 million tonnes, while barley production is set to rise by 11 per cent to 9.5 million tonnes. ABARES says both figures are forecast to be the second highest on record.

Canola production is forecast to be the third highest on record, up 23 per cent to around 3.6 million tonnes.

Gooday adds forecasts for summer crops are also positive.

"Total summer crop production is forecast to rise by 28 per cent to close to 4.8 million tonnes," he says.

"Overall, the Crop Report is welcome news, with the last quarter delivering well-needed production increases across the board, with an optimistic outlook for summer."

Read ABARES' full Australian Crop Report here.