Western Australia is set to produce 420,000 metric tons more wheat this year than previously projected, according to a report from the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA). This increase contributes to expectations that Australia’s national wheat crop will surpass earlier estimates.
Key Highlights:
Increased Production Estimates: Analysts have already raised their nationwide production estimates by approximately 1 million tons following strong early harvest results in New South Wales, another major cropping region.
Strong Yields in Western Australia: Early harvests in Western Australia are showing high yields across all crops. The GIWA now forecasts a harvest of:
10.33 million tons of wheat
4.52 million tons of barley
2.59 million tons of canola
These figures are up from last month’s predictions of:
9.91 million tons of wheat
4.32 million tons of barley
2.36 million tons of canola
Record Crop Despite Challenges: Despite experiencing below-average rainfall in most areas, Western Australia’s total grain and oilseed crop is expected to be the third-largest on record. The GIWA noted that the higher yields are remarkable given the dry start to the season.
Impact of Weather: Recent widespread rain has slowed harvesting and may have affected grain quality in some regions.
National Production Forecast: The latest government estimate predicts Australia will produce 31.8 million tons of wheat in the 2024/25 season, which is about 20% more than the previous season and the ten-year average. However, yields in South Australia and Victoria have been limited due to dry conditions.