WITH a record 23.2 million hectares sown to winter crops across the country, this year is once again forecast to be well above average, according to the Australian Crop Report.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics’ report said the national winter crop harvest is projected to be 54.8 million tonnes.
ABARES executive director Dr Jared Greenville said, “This is about 32% above the ten-year average to 2020-21, although it is a slight fall of about 2% on last year’s harvest.
“Given the winter crop in 2020-21 was the second largest on record, this is still a substantial result.
“It’s set to be a particularly good year for canola, with the national crop forecast to be a record-breaking 5 million tonnes, an increase of 11%.”
This will likely mean above average export volumes as well, with Australia generally exporting around 70% of its agricultural production. This includes 71% of all wheat and 72% of the canola crop.
Dr Greenville said Australia had experienced excellent growing conditions throughout June and July this year, with average or above average rainfall in most cropping regions.
“Looking at the three-month forecast, spring rainfall is set to be above average in the eastern states and South Australia – just what is needed to finish the winter crop off,” he said.
Minister for agriculture David Littleproud, said, “Canola was worth $1.4 billion nationally in 2019-20. Production of wheat and barley are expected to fall but still be in the top two to three tonnages ever recorded.
“Of concern for farmers will be the possibility that mouse numbers will increase this spring and ongoing border closures making access to heavy machinery operators in particular challenging.
“While higher mouse numbers are not expected to significantly reduce national production, they are likely to have localised effects by increase production costs and may affect grain stored on-site in affected regions,” he said.
