Australian farmers plant more barley, less canola this year; wheat area unchanged

Australian farmers are set to plant a similar area with wheat this year to last season, while increasing barley and reducing canola sowing, as low wheat prices boost barley’s appeal and dry conditions make canola less viable, analysts said. Eastern and some western cropping areas have received ample rain but a lack of soil moisture in South Australia, Victoria and parts of Western Australia hangs over the harvest outlook. The median of seven forecasts from analysts and traders was for Australia to produce 30.3 million metric tons of wheat in 2025/26, which is 3.8 million tons lower than last year’s output but above the 10-year average of 27.6 million tons. Australia is the world’s fourth-largest wheat exporter and ships feed grain barley to buyers in countries including China, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Demand for Australian canola could rise in the coming season from China with Beijing locked in a trade dispute with Canada, its traditional supplier of the oilseed. Australian farmers ...