Australia expects bumper winter harvest following drought

SYDNEY (AFP) Dec 02, 2003
Australia will reap its second-largest winter harvest on record as the rural sector recovers from a crippling drought that slashed last season's crops to a 20-year low, the official agriculture forecaster predicted Tuesday.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) said the winter crop was likely to be 37.6 million tonnes (41.36 million short tons) after a dramatic turnaround in conditions in most states.

The crop more than doubled last winter's 15.5 million tonnes (17.05 million short tons), the worst since 1982/83.

Wheat production in 2003-04 is forecast to rise 138 percent to 23.9 million tonnes (26.29 short tons), barley up 109 percent to 7.7 million tonnesshort tons) and canola 68 percent to 1.4 million tonnes.

ABARE said there was a generally poor start to the season across much of the grain belt, although many crops recovered following mild conditions and favorable rains mainly in June, August and October.

"Western Australia has experienced a dramatic turnaround from last year's drought ... similarly, production in Victoria and South Australia is also expected to be up significantly," it said.

TERRA.WIRE