Australia's 2003/04 barley production is forecast at 8.0 million tonnes up 1.0 million or 14 % from last month and up 4.3 million or 116 % from last year. This large year-to-year production increase is the result of increased area and yield. The sharp rebound in 2003/04 production is due to the significantly improved growing conditions as compared to last season’s drought devastated winter-crop harvest. The current 2003/04 Australia barley area forecast is 4.0 million hectares up 0.5 million or 14 percent from last month and up 0.3 million or 8 percent from last year. Increases in planted area for barley follow the same trends observed for wheat. The yield forecast of 2.0 tons per hectare is an average barley yield prior to last year’s 100-year drought.

04 January, 2004