 Australia
February 19, 2008
Source:
Australian Oilseeds
Federation
Canola 2007/08
There is little change to the canola estimates from last month.
Our final estimates for 2007/08 are for production of 1.069
million tonnes. Canola estimates will recommence in April/May
2008. Sunflowers
2007/08
Good rain during the past few weeks and strong market conditions
has seen sunflower prospects improve
considerably. Production estimates have been revised up by
around 40% to now be just under 70,000 tonnes. The late plant
has seen an increased area of polyunsaturated sunflowers
planted. Mono sunflowers are estimated at 60% of the crop,
compared to around 80% in the previous couple of seasons.
 The
Queensland estimates include potential for increased
plantings of poly sunflowers in Central Queensland,
however, with the planting window just opening this is yet to be
realised. The good rain has boosted plantings in
southern Queensland.
In New South Wales, harvest of early plant sunflowers in
the Moree district has been progressing slowly, with delays due
to
rainfall in the last 14‐21 days. Temperatures have also
continued to be quite mild delaying dry‐down. Yields
appear to be disappointing with many crops likely to yield
between 0.8 – 1.2t/ha at this stage. Unfortunately the rain
arrived too late to benefit the early crops in most cases.
Crops which have been harvested have had good
admixture levels in the range of 1‐2%. The crop has generally
been ready for harvest for 2‐3 weeks now, so fine weather for
the next couple of weeks is essential to getting the crop off.
The late plant has benefited from the good rains in recent weeks
although the falls have continued to be variable. Growers
continued planting up until early February so the late plant
growth stages are also variable, ranging from just emerged to
10‐12 leaf stage. Rutherglen bug pressure has been fairly low to
date. Warmer temperatures would help with crop development
particularly as harvest will be quite late. Yield potentials are
estimated to be around 1.5t/ha.
The early plant on the Liverpool Plains is rapidly approaching
harvest, however rain has continued to fall across the plains
with some paddocks remaining very wet. The early plant was set
back by a lack of rain in the spring and high Rutherglen bug
pressure, reducing yield potential. However it is hoped that
harvest will yield between 1.2‐ 1.5t/ha.
The late planting window commenced with some crops being sown in
December and planting continuing until the
end of January. The great majority of the late plant is
monounsaturated with only a small area sown to
polyunsaturated and confectionary/ birdseed hybrids. A
reasonable portion of the crop has been double cropped
following winter cereals in response to the favourable prices
and good rain. The crop has continued to grow
rapidly and some evidence of powdery mildew and minor white
blister has been coming into the lower canopy of the crop. The
presence of whitefly has also been noted in some crops and
rutherglen bug pressure remains low. Yield potential for the
late plant remains high, with an average of 1.5t/ha estimated at
this early stage of crop
development. |
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