ABARES predicts increases in crop production

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has today revealed that crop production is expected to increase by seven per cent this winter.

This would take Australia's levels of crop production to approximately 39.2 million tonnes.

Paul Morris, executive director of ABARES, said conditions across "major grain producing regions" in the country have been quite varied, with some areas faring better than others.

South Australia, Victoria and parts of Western Australia have all had "generally favourable" temperatures and rainfall, which means crop production is expected to rise in these areas.

Queensland and New South Wales, on the other hand, have experienced "below average rainfall since mid-winter," says Mr Morris, which has "adversely affected crop development" in these states.

He explained that "sufficient and timely rainfall" will be necessary in the coming weeks and months for the country's projected increase in crop production to eventuate.

According to the Australian Crop Report, it is Australia's wheat and barley growers who are destined to have good yields this year. The report states that wheat production is expected to rise by an impressive 11 per cent in 2013-14, while barley production should increase by 13 per cent.

This will take each crop's production levels to 24.5 million tonnes and 7.7 million tonnes, respectively.

Mr Morris added that the number of hectares devoted to summer crops is also expected to rise this year, by a projected total of three per cent.

Again, he explained that sufficient rainfall is the key to making these projections become realities.

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