Australia's crop production expected to increase

All over the country, farmers are busy at work harvesting their crops. This season promises to see production rise, according to the latest Australian Crop Report.

The report, which is published by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES), shows that production is expected to climb by 12 per cent this season to reach a whopping 42.1 million tonnes.

Not all kinds of crops are set to contribute to the increase, though. For instance, canola production has been projected to drop by 15 per cent in 2013-14. Nevertheless, the report notes this year will see the "third largest canola crop on record".

Karen Schneider, executive director of ABARES, said it's wheat and barley production that are really expected to be the stars of the season. She explained that wheat production is set to jump by an impressive 17 per cent in 2013-14 to reach 26.2 million tonnes.

It's a similar tale for barley production, which the Australian Crop Report projects will hit 8.6 million tonnes by the end of January - an increase of 15 per cent on 2012-13.

As always, different seasonal conditions across the states and territories will impact how many crops they are able to produce.

Ms Schneider said that Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia are (most likely) going to be the frontrunners this year, as seasonal conditions have been "good" in all three states.

If you want to protect your crops against weather events such as hail, natural and man-made disasters such as fire and livestock intrusion or loss-causing incidents such as chemical overspray, a crop insurance policy is the answer.

Elders Insurance offers a range of farm insurance that will give you peace of mind, no matter what the season.