Australia-Winter grain harvest better than anticipated.

2008-09 winter grain harvest revised up

A higher than anticipated winter grain harvest across WA has seen the 2008-09 national harvest being revised up, to 32.9 million tonnes. According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics’ (ABARE) Australian Crop Report, winter grain production in 2008-09 was up 46% and 86%, respectively, on the two previous year’s harvests, with WA again accounting for a large portion of the production.

Winter grain production in WA in 2008-09 reached 13.4 million tonnes, up 38% year-on-year, and the third largest harvest since 1996-97. Assisting production levels in the west in 2008-09 were favourable planting and growing conditions across most regions, while higher grain prices (at the time of sowing) encouraged producers to increase plantings. According to ABARE, the area planted to wheat across WA in 2008-09 increased 20% from the previous year, to 4.9 million hectares, with wheat production increasing 46%, to 8.9 million tonnes.

Across the southern states, winter grain production was back on 2007-08 levels in both Victoria and SA, as drought conditions continued to plague producers. After initial hopes of an improved season in 2008-09, a very dry spring saw production forecasts slashed, with Victoria’s harvest falling 21% year-on-year, to 3.1 million tonnes. In SA, production was 4.5 million tonnes, 8% below 2007-08 levels.

In NSW, drought conditions and failed crops across southern cropping regions were contrasted by an excellent growing season across central and northern regions of the state. Total production for the 2008-09 season reached 9.7 million tonnes in NSW, up significantly from the previous two years of 3.1 million tonnes and 3.8 million tonnes, respectively. Unfortunately for northern NSW growers and their very good crops, harvest time was disrupted by widespread rain, resulting in significant downgrading in quality.

In 2008-09, Queensland recorded its highest winter grain harvest in nine years, at 2.2 million tonnes – 89% up on the previous year. Like WA, the surge in production was largely attributable to increased plantings, lured by improved seasonal conditions and higher grain prices, with wheat planting up 72% year-on-year, to 1 million hectares.