ABARE’s June issue of the Australian Crop Report has forecast a drop in winter crop production to 36.7 million tonnes for 2004-05, down 2.6 million tonnes from the previous season’s record. 

Although ABARE says the area planted to winter crops will increase slightly to 20 million hectares, it has forecast a return to average yields across most grain growing areas. 

The report says autumn rainfall across the grain belt had been variable, with some areas still in need of rain, and notes that while production in Queensland and New South Wales is forecast to increase, WA production is expected to fall after an exceptional 2003-04 season. 

Nationally, wheat production is tipped to fall by 1.7 million tonnes, barley by 0.7 million tonnes and canola by 0.1 million tonnes. 

Editions of the Australian Crop Report can be obtained by visiting www.abare.gov.au