Winter crop yield to hit record high

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has predicted a further hike in Australian winter crop production to a record high of 52.4 million tonnes in the 2016-17 season, which represents a 32 per cent increase on the previous period.

According to the December edition of the ABARES' Australian Crop Report, producers will see an increase in production across all winter crops including wheat, barley, canola and chickpea.

Acting ABARES Executive Director, Peter Gooday, says above average rainfall in September, followed by mild spring conditions, had ensured good soil moisture for grain development.

“Wheat production in 2016–17 is forecast to rise by 35 per cent to a record high of 32.6 million tonnes," he says.

"At the same time, barley production is forecast to rise by 24 per cent to a record high of 10.6 million tonnes, and canola production is forecast to rise by 22 per cent to 3.6 million tonnes—which would be the third-highest on record.

"Chickpea production is also forecast to reach a record high of 1.2 million tonnes this year—a rise of 21 per cent that reflects an estimated increase in planted area and a forecast rise in the average yield."

While some cropping regions have been hard hit by adverse weather conditions this year, Gooday says total crop production is forecast to be higher in every state.

In addition, ABARES also predicts summer crop yield to increase in the new year to around 4.6 million tonnes, a 21 per cent increase from last season.

The total area planted is forecast to increase by 15 per cent to around 1.4 million hectares.

Cotton production is predicted to rise by 64 per cent to around one million tonnes of cotton lint and 1.5 million tonnes of cottonseed.

"The area planted to rice is forecast to increase almost fourfold in 2016–17 to 90,000 hectares in response to an increase in the supply of irrigation water available to rice growers," Gooday adds.

"However the area planted to grain sorghum is forecast to fall by 31 per cent in 2016–17 to 471,000 hectares, the lowest in 24 years."

The December edition of the Australian Crop Report is available at ABARES' website.