Australian wheat production to fall 24 per cent, estimates

Australian wheat production to fall 24 per cent, estimatesThe Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science (ABARES) has said that it expects the wheat production in Australia to fall 24 per cent this year.

The government's commodity forecasting authority believes that the total production of wheat will fall to 22.5 million tonnes in 2012/13, compared to a highest ever record in the previous year. The agency pointed out that the wheat available for export will remain high this year due to record production in the previous two seasons.

The production for the winter season is expected to be at about 36.2 million tones, which is about 20 per cent lower than record production in the previous year. The estimated production in winter is however 17 per cent higher than the five year average till 2010-11.

ABARES executive director Paul Morris said that the lower production estimation is mainly due to dry season in Western Australia and some parts of south eastern Australia.

"In contrast, conditions have been more positive in northern New South Wales and Queensland, where crops are forecast to achieve above average yields," said Mr. Morris.