Australia’s government crop forecaster, ABARES, has significantly raised its estimate for the 2016 winter crop, reporting unprecedented yields in most regions.
Total Australian winter crop production for the 2016-17 season was raised by 12 per cent above December forecasts to a record-large 58.9 million tonnes.
Wheat was forecast at a record 35.1 million tonnes, with a record barley crop of 13.4 million tonnes. National canola production was 4.1 million tonnes, the second largest on record.
Massive Victorian winter crops were reflective of the national estimates. The state’s wheat crop was pegged at 5.2 million tonnes, more than doubling the previous season’s 2.1 million tonnes. Barley’s at a record 3.2 million tonnes and canola 700,000 tonnes, double the size of the 2014-15 harvest.
