Australia: Dennis Wise, managing director and analyst with the Perth-based ProFarmer, said the Victorian barley crop was about 25 % harvested, but the worst hit areas, the Mallee and Wimmera, were being harvested first. He said it was unclear whether there would be an export surplus of malt barley out of Victoria. "However, there will be a small export surplus of feed barley," he said. "Receivals to date are 80 % feed, but this should change dramatically once harvest moves into the higher yielding crops of the Western District, which are expected to go 50 to 60 % malt."

08 December, 2004