[ad_1]
October showers have brought some relief to farmers, but it is far too late for much of Australia's drought-ravaged cropping country, with rural badysts predicting the worst winter harvest in 10 years.
Rabobank's Winter Crop Production Outlook – titled Running On Empty – Northern and Central Predictors.
Rabobank forecasts the overall 2018/19 national grain harvest to reach just 29.3 million tonnes, down from 23 per cent on the previous year, following a "drought to rival the millennium drought".
Read Next
Only increased harvest prospects in Western Australia – which is set to contribute more than half of the world in the first 20 years – the bank said.
"For vast regions of the eastern states, there will be no harvest, and where there is a harvest, will yield anywhere between 30 percent and 50 percent down on average," the Winter Crop report says.
"Late, to no, season-opening rains, below-average to lowest-and-average temperature and above-average temperatures coupled with damaging frost to reduce harvest volumes and affect grain quality."
Hardest hit will be central and northern NSW, where up to 80 per cent of certain planted areas will be harvested for grain, as farmers look at alternative uses such as hay, silage and grazing.
The state is expected to see 58 percent drop in wheat production last year, and 72 percent drop below the five-year average, to 1.9 million tonnes.
NSW chickpeas and beans are expected to hit the ground with 84 percent production drop on the 2017/18 season, and 86 percent from the five-year average, to 97,000 tons.
Rabobank had predicted an earlier and reduced national harvest in its October Agribusiness Monthly outlook, saying two years of below-average rainfall, and growing prices in the near future. INSTEAD.
Rabobank agricultural researcher Wes Lefroy says it will deliver some little growth, or no, yield prospects.
The bank also forecasts total grain exports to 50 per cent on last year, to 13.9 million tonnes, including 50 per cent drop in wheat exports, 48 per cent drop in barley exports, and 41 per cent drop in canola. export.
Earlier in the month, NSW's peak ag lobby group called for maximum vigilance from border authorities in the growing likelihood of grain being imported into the state of the drought.
NSW Farmers' Grains Committee Chair Matthew Madden said growers are anxious to ensure that the state's reputation for growing high-quality, is not jeopardized in a rush to import grain from other states and overseas.
Read Next
Source link
