Australia: Barley production is forecast to increase to over 9 million tonnes
In the June release of their quarterly crop report, ABARE (the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) forecast Australia's 2007/08 barley production to increase by 5.3 million tonnes to over 9.1 million tonnes.
In New South Wales the area planted to barley in 2007-08 is forecast to increase by around 12 per cent to 1 million hectares, largely refl ecting the earlier start to the season. However, in northern parts of New South Wales, it is expected that some of the area planned for wheat will be planted to barley, because of lower soil moisture profi les. Assuming average yields, barley production in 2007-08 is forecast to be around 2 million tonnes, almost four times that produced in 2006-07.
The area planted to barley in Victoria in 2007-08 is forecast to rise by 8 per cent to 920 000 hectares. Production is forecast to exceed 2 million tonnes, almost four times what was produced last season, reflecting the increased area sown, combined with a return to average yields.
Queensland’s area planted to barley is forecast to fall by around 6 per cent to 85 000 hectares in 2007-08, primarily refl ecting expected lower sowings in southern Queensland, particularly in the western Darling Downs and the Maranoa Balonne district. Assuming a return to average yields, total barley production is forecast to increase by 43 per cent to 136 000 tonnes in 2007-08.
Barley area in Western Australia is forecast to be 1.15 million hectares in 2007-08, an increase of 80 000 hectares over the area in 2006-07. The slight improvement in the area sown to barley and a return to average yields is forecast to result in barley production increasing by 590 000 tonnes.
The area planted to barley in South Australia in 2007-08 is forecast to increase by 14 per cent to around 1.2 million hectares, reflecting the good start to the season and relatively high prices for feed barley compared with wheat. Assuming a return to average yields, barley production in 2007-08 is forecast to reach 2.6 million tonnes, almost three times as much as was produced in the 2006-07 drought year.
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