Australia: 2020-21 barley production to increase by 25%
Winter crop production in Australia is forecast to increase by 64% in 202021 to 47.9 million tonnes, 20% above the 10-year average to 201920 of 40 million tonnes, ABARES said in its September report.
For the major winter crops, wheat production is forecast to increase by 91% to 28.9 million tonnes, 22% above the 10-year average to 201920 of 23.7 million tonnes. Barley production is forecast to increase by 25% to 11.2 million tonnes, 23% above the 10-year average to 201920 of 9.1 million tonnes. Canola production is forecast to rise by 47% to 3.4 million tonnes, 4% above the 10-year average to 201920 of 3.3 million tonnes.
In New South Wales, barley production is forecast to be 2.5 million tonnes in 202021, 52% above the 10-year average to 201920. The average yield is forecast to be 2.7 tonnes per hectare, 30% above the ten year average to 201920. Area planted to barley is estimated to be 950,000 hectares, 22% above the 10-year average to 201920.
Queenslands barley production is forecast to rise significantly to 270,000 tonnes in 202021, which is 27% above the 10-year average to 201920. This is largely driven by an estimated 200% increase in planted area to 135,000 hectares, which is 31% above the 10-year average to 201920. The estimated increase in planted area resulted from an increase in planted area in southern cropping regions.
Barley production in Victoria is forecast to decrease by 6% in 202021 to around 2.3 million tonnes, driven by an expected fall in the average yield to 2.7 tonnes per hectare, which is down 11% from the exceptional average yield in 201920. Planted area is estimated to have increased by 6%, partially offsetting the effect on production of the expected fall in yields. The average yield for barley is expected to have fallen year-over-year because a smaller area is estimated to have been planted to barley in high-yielding regions in comparison to 201920.
South Australias barley production is forecast to increase by 14% in 202021 to 2.1 million tonnes, reflecting an expected 14% increase in the state wide average yield. The expected increase in the average yield is less significant for barley than for wheat because less area is estimated to have been planted to barley in high-yielding regions than last year. This is not the case for wheat. Area planted to barley is estimated to have fallen slightly.
In Western Australia, barley production is forecast to increase by 3% to 3.95 million tonnes, reflecting a forecast 12% rise in the average yield. Area planted to barley is estimated to have fallen by 9% to 1.6 million hectares, with area planted to wheat increasing at the expense of area planted to barley in some growing regions.