Drought cuts state's wheat forecast again
October 06, 2007
SOUTH Australia, the nation's third-largest wheat-growing state, has cut its forecast for wheat production for a second time, as drought damages crops.
It is now estimated that the state will produce 4.85 million tonnes of wheat in the harvest starting this month, down 13 per cent from the 5.5 million tonnes estimated last month, Rural Solutions SA says in its latest crop report.
Primary industries officials said further rain this month was also required to avoid another reduction in the forecast yield.
Harvest expectations in Australia have been scaled back since the US Department of Agriculture forecast on September 12 that the country would tie with Canada as the world's second-biggest wheat exporter.
Lower output in Australia for two years has helped to more than double wheat prices to a record.
Barley output may be 1.7million tonnes, 11 per cent lower than the month-earlier estimate of 1.9 million tonnes.
South Australia is the nation's biggest barley producer.
The agency also cut its estimate for canola by 11 per cent to 194,000 tonnes.
Consultant Peter Fulwood said warm, dry and windy weather over the past month had reduced the likely grain harvest from estimates made last month.
He said mean daily temperatures were between 2C and 4C above average in many districts.
"There were also a couple of days that were hot and windy and this has also affected crops," Mr Fulwood said.
However, he said some districts had done better than others and would benefit from high grain prices.
"While many regions have been severely affected by the weather during August, there are some bright lights across South Australia," Mr Fulwood said. "Some areas like parts of the mid-north, central and southern Yorke Peninsula and the upper and lower southeast are looking good."
AAP
theaustralian.news.com.au |
