Unfavourable seasonal conditions in key cropping regions since the release of the September 2017 edition of Australian crop report mean that ABARES is likely to downgrade its forecast of 2017–18 winter crop production in the December edition of the report.
ABARES Executive Director, Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds, said that ABARES had noted the September forecast for winter crop production would only be achieved if spring rainfall was sufficient and timely, especially in central west New South Wales and the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
“Unfortunately, in New South Wales, crop conditions in the central west have deteriorated significantly and yields are likely to be well below our September forecast,” Dr Hatfield-Dodds said.
“In South Australia, at this point ABARES does not envisage significant changes from the September 2017 forecast for winter crop production.
“Overall, we expect the December 2017 forecast for Australia’s winter crop production in Australia will be lower than the September 2017 forecast, but likely still around the 10 year average to 2015–16.”
The December edition of Australian crop report will be released on 5 December 2017.
For more information visit Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update – 12 October 2017.