Fed: Wheat farmers bounce back from drought: ABARE

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2003
Fed: Wheat farmers bounce back from drought: ABARE

CANBERRA, Dec 2 AAP - The nation's wheat farmers will bounce back from the drought
to bring in a near record crop, new figures released today show.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) said the wheat
crop would be 138 per cent up on last season to 23.9 million tonnes.

But late rain and hail in some states, plus hot winds in South Australia and Victoria,
have robbed farmers of an even better crop.

ABARE was forced to reduce its forecast from its September prediction of 24 million tonnes.

Western Australia will bring in a record wheat crop of 9.8 million tonnes, up 147 per cent.

Wheat crops in South Australia (up 90 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes) and Victoria
(up 262 per cent to 3.2 million tonnes) are also at near record highs.

Production in NSW will be up 135 per cent to 5.9 million tonnes and up 74 per cent
in Queensland to 1 million tonnes.

"Despite below average rainfall in most cropping regions of WA, above average yields
are being achieved, leading to a record grain crop, as rainfall was received at critical
times throughout the season for crop growth and grain fill," ABARE said.

"In South Australia, Victoria and southern NSW there is also a likelihood of average
to above average yields in most grain growing regions, leading to sizable crops, although
hot, dry winds in September and isolated pockets of frost and disease had a negative impact
during October and early November.

"Crops in southern regions have also recently suffered from some rain and hail damage,
which is likely to have an impact on final yields and grain quality."

ABARE said the average yield would be 1.94 tonnes per hectare, slightly above the five-year
average of 1.93 tonnes per hectare.

Last season's yield average was just 0.91 tonnes per hectare.

Farmers have planted 12.3 million hectares to wheat.

AAP sw/sb/maur/br

KEYWORD: ABARE WHEAT

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