Australian wheat and barley production in 2024/25 is expected to be larger than earlier estimates and well above what was grown the previous crop year, according to updated estimates from the Australia’s agriculture department (ABARES).
Wheat production was forecast at 31.8 million tonnes in the September ABARES report, which would be up by 2.7 million tonnes from the June forecast and 23 per cent above the year-ago level.
“Most areas with average or better levels of soil moisture are likely to receive enough rainfall to support winter crops through critical development stages,” according to the report, However, the government agency also noted that there was a potential downside risk from warmer temperatures in some areas experiencing moisture stress.
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Australian barley production is forecast to increase by 13 per cent on the year, at 12.2 million tonnes. That compares with the June forecast of 11.5 million tonnes.
The Australian canola production estimate, at 5.5 million tonnes, was up only slightly from June’s 5.4 million-tonne forecast. That compares with the 5.9 million tonnes of canola grown the previous year but would still be 22 per cent above the 10 per average the fourth largest Australian canola crop on record.
