Australia: Barley production is forecast to fall by 13 % in 2005-2006

Barley production is forecast by ABARE to fall by 13 % to 5.62 million metric tonnes in 2005-06 compared to 6.45 million metric tonnes of barley production in 2004-2005, according to ABARE’s Crop Report published on June 7, 2005. Australia’s barley exports are forecast at 4.68 million metric tonnes (of which 3.02 mln mt feed barley, 1.12 mln mt malting barley, 0.534 mln mt malt (grain equivalent)) compared to 5.24 mln mt in 2004-2005 (of which 3.18 mln mt feed barley, 1.495 mln mt malting barley, 0.562 mln mt of malt (grain equivalent)).

ABARE commented that as barley can generally be planted later than other winter cereals, if a late break does occur then farmers may change their planting intentions to include more barley. With these agronomic factors, the area sown to barley in southern Australia is likely to decrease by a smaller margin than the area planted to wheat.

New South Wales: The area planted to barley in 2005-06 is forecast to be 600 000 hectares, an 8 per cent decline from the previous year. The late break to the season is influencing the cropping mix in New South Wales. It is expected that some of the area planned for canola will be planted to barley and therefore the area sown to barley is not forecast to fall to the same degree as wheat. Nevertheless, barley yields are forecast to be below average and production in 2005-06 is forecast to fall by 30 per cent to 900 000 tonnes.

Victoria: Reflecting the current dry conditions and the assumed below average seasonal conditions, the area planted to barley in Victoria in 2005-06 is forecast to decline by 13 per cent to 665 000 hectares. Production is forecast to be 998 000 tonnes, a 9 per cent decline from the previous season.

Queensland: The area planted to barley is forecast to fall by 11 per cent to 80 000 hectares in 2005-
06, primarily refl ecting expected lower sowings in the Darling Downs, one of the state’s major barley growing regions. The majority of barley sown is forecast to be in the western Downs and Maranoa/Waggamba regions.

Western Australia: Barley production in 2005-06 is forecast to be 2.2 million tonnes, one of the highest barley crops on record. The area sown to barley is forecast to increase by 10 per cent and total around 1.1 million hectares.

South Australia: The area planted to barley in 2005-06 is forecast to be 12 per cent lower that in 2004-
05 at around 950 000 hectares. Assuming below average yields, barley production in 2005-06 is forecast to be 1.4 million tonnes, a 22 per cent reduction on 2004-05.

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