Australia projects second largest winter crop in history

Australia's winter grain production for 2025-26 is expected to reach 66.3 million tonnes, a 10 percent increase that, if confirmed, will be the second-highest volume ever recorded. This information comes from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, ABARES, in its December report. The harvest is progressing in all states, with results well above average in northern New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. The projected volume exceeds the ten-year average by 35 percent for crops such as wheat, barley, canola, lentils, and chickpeas. The planted area was 25.1 million hectares, just below last year's record. There was a 3 percent increase in Western Australia, offset by an equivalent decrease in New South Wales. Queensland reduced the area by 1 percent, while Victoria and South Australia nearly matched the previous year. According to ABARES, timely spring rains and mild temperatures favored crop development, with the exception of southern ...