Australian crop report is a quarterly report that assesses crop condition and prospects for major field crops in Australia. It includes analysis of climate and agronomic conditions and forecasts of area, yield and production in key producing states.
Australian Crop Report: December edition
Key issues
- Australian winter crop production was adversely affected by seasonal conditions in early spring that were more unfavourable than expected in most cropping regions.
- Rainfall was below average and daytime temperatures above average in most cropping regions, which reduced crop prospects in these regions.
- Changes to crop prospects in Western Australia and southern New South Wales were the most significant in reducing national production prospects.
- In contrast, yields in most southern cropping regions in South Australia and Victoria are expected to be average to above average.
- Harvest is underway in many regions but rainfall in early November slowed progress in southern New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
- Winter crop production is forecast to fall by 3% in 2019–20 to 29.4 million tonnes, which is around 27% below the 10-year average to 2018–19.
- Production is forecast to fall for the third consecutive year since record high production was achieved in 2016–17.
- Production is forecast to be below average in every state except Victoria, where above average production is expected.
- For the major winter crops:
- Wheat production is forecast to decrease by 8% to around 15.9 million tonnes, 35% below the 10-year average to 2018–19.
- Barley production is forecast to increase by 4% to around 8.7 million tonnes, 3% below the 10-year average to 2018–19.
- Canola production is forecast to fall by 4% to around 2.1 million tonnes, 35% below the 10-year average to 2018–19.
- Area planted to winter crops is estimated to have increased to just under 18.1 million hectares, partly because a smaller area of crops intended for grains and oilseeds production was cut for hay this year than last year.
- The crops planted for grains and oilseeds production that were cut for hay this year were cut in response to high fodder prices and unfavourable seasonal conditions in September in regions with low levels of soil moisture at the beginning of spring.
- Area planted to summer crops is expected to fall in 2019–20 for the second consecutive year to 535,000 hectares, which reflects low levels of soil moisture and an unfavourable outlook for seasonal conditions during summer in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Summer crop production is forecast to decline by 52% to around 1.2 million tonnes.
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