by PressFarmers expect a high winter crop in Australia
Winter crop in Australia will be above the ten-year average
Australia’s winter crop will be close to 60 million tonnes in 2024-2025. This will be 27% above the 10-year average. It could be the third-largest crop in the country’s history, according to ABARES. The forecast includes data for wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
Overview of winter production
Analysts say actual yields exceeded their expectations. The largest increases were recorded in Western Australia and New South Wales. The production forecast has grown by 19% in Western Australia and 6% in New South Wales.
For the 2024-2025 wheat season, the forecasts for wheat are as follows:
— wheat production will exceed 34 million tonnes;
— the indicator is 31% above the average annual level;
— 28% growth over the last ten years;
— yields in New South Wales are expected to increase by 82%;
— Western Australia anticipates a 64% rise in production.
The main driver of the grain surge in the leading regions is the growth in production in the northern parts of the states. Conditions there are favourable for growing winter wheat.
As for barley, its harvest will increase by 23% compared to the previous season. Analysts expect production to exceed 13 million tonnes. This is 17% higher than the average for the last 10 years. To achieve these results, Australian growers have expanded their acreage by 10%. Favourable weather conditions across most of the country also played a positive role.
Crop production is a key sector of the local economy. Australia ranks second in wheat exports and first in barley supplies.
The rapeseed harvest fell by 2% to around 6 million tonnes. One of the reasons is a reduction in the area under cultivation. However, the total area is still above ten-year levels. For example, analysts expect rapeseed production to be 31% above the 10-year average.
Winter oilseed area will go up by 8% to 25 million hectares this season. The largest increases are in Queensland, up 38%, and New South Wales, up 27%.
Favourable weather conditions at planting time had a positive impact on grain quality during the growing season.
Summer grain production overview
For the 2024-2025 season, analysts predict a decline in summer cereal production. Production is expected to be around 5 million tonnes. However, it will still be 28% above the 10-year average. The spring and summer of 2024 were optimal for crop growth. Analysts predict a strong performance in sorghum production. Australia is the world’s second largest supplier of the crop. The United States is the leader.