Markets Extra

Western Australia's improved harvest prospects

Markets Extra14 Aug 2020by Markets Extra

Western Australia is now expected to enjoy a far larger harvest this year, helped by recent rains, the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (Giwa) said on Friday.

But fortunes vary by crop.

Barley, for instance, will miss out on the increase - a reflection of the punitive tariffs that China placed on imports of the grain from Australia.

The levies were imposed before the end of the sowings window, giving farmers a little time to swap area to alternative crops.

Giwa forecasts for 2020 Western Australia crops, with comparisons
Crop	Giwa forecast	Change on year tonnes	Change on year %	Abares forecast
Wheat	8,890,000	+3,345,000	+60%	8,600,000
Barley	3,700,000	-155,000	-4.0%	3,900,000
Canola	1,230,000	+113,000	+10.1%	1,400,000
Oats	655,000	+260,000	+66%	800,000
Lupins	360,000	+10,000	+2.9%	490,000
Pulses	62,000	+30,000	+94%	88,000*
*Total grains*	*14,987,000*	*+3,603,000*	*+32%*	15,290,000**
* = combined Abares estimates for chickpeas, faba beans, field peas and lentils ** = combined Abares estimates for winter crops

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