Australia: South softens ahead of forecast rain

out-turning sorghum and planting wheat. Drought conditions across southern NSW, western and central Victoria as well as Gippsland, and South Australia are prompting mixed farmers and graziers to buy in roughage as well as grain. However, larger domestic consumers are seen as well covered, although shorts have been appearing in the northern and southern markets. Table 1: Indicative prices in Australian dollars per tonne. In Narrabri, Agvantage Commodities broker Brendon Warnock said periods of rain and then dry have allowed growers to plant on schedule, although some on the black-soil plains have had to pause to allow ground to dry out enough to carry machinery. “Progress has been pretty good, although…some western areas have been a challenge with the wet conditions,” Mr Warnock said. “Establishment of early crops like wheat, faba beans and canola has been good.” Mr Warnock said growers in the region were generally waiting until June to plant chickpeas in order to minimise the risk ...