AUSTRALIA (11 October)
A drier than average winter hampered the development of the 2004 winter grain crops. Although some widespread rainfall in late August improved the prospects, especially in the important producing state of New South Wales, the total winter grain output is forecast to decline by 11 percent from last year’s good level. The latest official forecast in September foresees wheat production at just over 22 million tonnes, about 2.7 million tonnes down from last year because of poorer yield prospects. Similarly, output of barley is expected to fall to 7.3 million tonnes, 1.3 million tonnes down from 2003.
The summer coarse grain crop area, for harvest in 2005, is forecast to rise by 21 percent to 1.3 million hectares. The late winter rainfall in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, the key sorghum and maize producing areas, greatly improved subsoil moisture conditions for planting in October.