Canberra ACT, Australia
October 30, 2007
Continuing dry means further cut
to crop
The continued deterioration in
seasonal conditions over the critical September – October
period, particularly in parts of South Australia, northern
Victoria and New South Wales, means that the 2007-08 national
winter crop forecasts have had to be revised down.
ABARE has issued a
special update to its quarterly Australian Crop Report with this
drought update, released today by Mr Phillip Glyde, Executive
Director of ABARE.
Output of the three main winter grains – wheat, barley and
canola – is now forecast at 12.1 million tonnes, 5 million
tonnes and 900 000 tonnes respectively.
‘Although a combined total of 18 million tonnes for the three
major crops is around 42 per cent below the five year average,
it is still around 4 million tonnes above 2006-07 production,’
Mr Glyde stated.
With the exception of Queensland, pockets of northern New South
Wales and southern Western Australia, rainfall during the
critical September – October period has been below to very much
below average throughout the grains belt. New South Wales has
been particularly dry, with many regions recording their lowest
September – October rainfall on record.
‘This lack of rainfall, combined with hotter than average
daytime temperatures and strong winds has led to the rapid
deterioration of crop yield potential and in many areas has
resulted in total crop failure,’ Mr Glyde said.
A significant number of winter cereal crops have also been cut
for hay in an attempt to recoup some planting costs.
Mr Glyde noted that livestock have also been affected by the
deterioration in seasonal conditions, with farmers continuing to
reduce stock numbers.
‘High yardings of cattle, sheep and lambs during September and
the first three weeks of October have led to lower saleyard
prices,’ he concluded. |
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