Australia: Barley production in 2009-10 is forecast at 7.9 million tonnes

Winter cropping regions in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria received average to above average winter rainfall. Conversely, most of Queensland and northern New South Wales received below to very much below average winter rainfall, with August being a particularly dry month across both states. The lack of rainfall, combined with above average temperatures, have resulted in crops in many areas of the two states (including southern and central New South Wales) suffering moisture stress in the critical spring growth phase.

Total winter crop production in 2009-10 is forecast to be around 36 million tonnes. This is an upward revision from ABARE’s June 2009 forecast of 34.8 million tonnes. Dry seasonal conditions have resulted in a downward revision of forecast production for both New South Wales and Queensland. However, this has been more than offset by upward revisions for Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The total area sown to winter crops in 2009-10 is estimated to have increased by 2 per cent to slightly more than 22.2 million hectares

Barley production in 2009-10 is forecast to be around 7.9 million tonnes, a 16 per cent increase from the previous season, ABARE stated in its latest Crop Report.

New South Wales
Barley production in 2009-10 is forecast to fall by around 3 per cent, to 1.5 million tonnes, reflecting an expected decline in yields. The area planted to barley in 2009-10 is estimated to have increased by 2 per cent to around 1 million hectares.

Victoria
Barley production is forecast to increase by around 92 per cent in 2009-10, to 1.7 million tonnes. The increase in production is the result of improved growing conditions so far in 2009-10, compared with the 2008-09 growing season. The area planted to barley is estimated to have fallen slightly to 940 000 hectares.

Queensland
Although the area planted to barley is estimated to have remained unchanged in 2009-10 at around 100 000 hectares, a forecast decline in yields is likely to result in a 29 per cent drop in production. Barley yields in Queensland are forecast at 1.40 tonnes per hectare in 2009-10, compared with 1.97 tonnes per hectare in 2008-09.

Western Australian
Barley area is estimated to have fallen slightly in 2009-10 to 1.2 million hectares. Barley production is forecast to decline by 6 per cent to around 2.4 million tonnes in 2009-10.

South Australia
The area planted to barley in 2009-10 is estimated to have fallen by 1 per cent compared with 2008-09. However, as a result of favourable seasonal conditions, yields are forecast to be 1.83 tonnes per hectare, compared with the previous year’s poor yield of 1.36 tonnes per hectare. South Australian barley production is forecast to increase by 33 per cent to 2.2 million tonnes.

16 September, 2009