Australia is heading for its second-largest winter grain harvest on record, according to the nation's chief commodities forecaster. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) said winter crop production would be nearly 37.6 million tonnes in 2003-04 - 20.6 million tonnes more than the yield of last year's drought-ravaged crop. ABARE's December crop report from December 02 said the crop would be second only to the record 39.3 million tonnes in 2001-02.

Barley production is forecast to rise by 109 % to 7.7 million tones.

Victoria's winter crop is expected to be 5.8 million tonnes, the state's second biggest on record. The total winter crop is slightly above ABARE's estimate in September. Estimates for the various states, however, have changed considerably. ABARE executive director Brian Fisher said the turnaround was dramatic in Western Australia, where the crop would be a record 14.4 million tonnes. However, Dr Fisher said crops were damaged in NSW and Queensland, and to a lesser extent in Victoria and South Australia, by hot winds in September, and some frost and disease in October and early November. Victoria experienced mild winter conditions and favourable rains, mainly in June, August and October.

The state's barley production is forecast to more than triple - to 1.4 million tonnes.

03 December, 2003