Australia
November 6, 2006
Australian Oilseeds
Federation - Canola crop report November 2006 (excerpts)
The
Australian canola crop continues to be impacted by the sustained
dry conditions and some late frosts have further decimated the
crop. Production in Western Australia has held firm, but all the
eastern states have seen production revised down. We now
estimate the crop at a new low of 420,000 tonnes.
Crops in the north of New South Wales have fared relatively well
given the conditions and some good yields have been reported.
The other factor holding up NSW average yields is the dominance
of canola on irrigation in the south, with large areas of the
dryland crop not harvested. Thus, the average state yield is not
indicative of average yields off dryland areas. In addition to
low and variable yields across the centre and south of the
state, oil contents are also down. At this stage, NSW is
expected to produce around 36,000 tonnes off a harvested area of
40,000 tonnes, but there could be some further downside.
Last month’s report noted that Victorian production was being
held up by the western districts, but that rain was
needed to secure this. Not only has the state not received any
rain over the past month, the western district experienced a
severe frost and this has severely reduced production potential.
It is estimated that more than half the western district’s area
could be cut for hay and the remaining crops will have
significantly reduced yields. Area and yields have been reduced
slightly in the Wimmera and the North East. Victoria is now
expected to produce 50,000 tonnes from a harvested area of
85,000 hectares.
There has been no rain in the last month in South Australia and
some frost damage in the South East. The harvest is probably
around one quarter completed. Oil contents are lower than
average, but have held up reasonably well given the seasonal
conditions. Harvested area has been reduced to 110,000 hectares
to produce 75,000 tonnes.
There has been no change to the estimates for Western Australia.
The harvest is well (60-70%) underway in the
Esperance zone. Rain in this region has slowed harvest progress
in recent days, but this is not expected to impact
quality. Harvest is just commencing in the Kwinana and Albany
zones. Oil contents are down 2-3% on last year, but are still
good given the season. |