MUMBAI, 19 Jun (Commoditiescontrol): According to a recent report by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), the South Australia's winter-crop production for the 2024-25 season is forecast to reach 8.55 million tonnes (Mt). This figure slightly exceeds the 8.3Mt forecast by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) in its quarterly Australian Crop Report released on June 3. However, it marks a slight decrease from the 8.7Mt produced last year.
As per PIRSA's Crop and Pasture Report: 2024-25 Seeding Intentions, based on conditions as of May 15, indicates that seeding was well underway across most farms in South Australia despite dry conditions. The report highlights a significant shift in crop selection, with a notable 38% increase in lentil production across the state. Conversely, there are reductions in the planned sowing of chickpeas, field peas, and lupins.
The latest figures from PIRSA continue the downtrend in barley cultivation observed since the 2019-20 season, when 990,000 hectares (ha) yielded 2.1Mt. The current barley crop is forecast at 826,000ha, expected to produce 2.1Mt, despite a 17% decrease in area.
The forecast for new-crop wheat stands at 4.8Mt from 2.2 million hectares (Mha), showing little change from last year's figures. In contrast, both the area and production of canola are expected to decline.
Lentil production is forecast to reach a record 332,400ha, with production tipped at 510,878 tonnes (t), a 41% increase from last year. These figures are significantly below ABARES’ estimates of 810,000t from 460,000ha.
The PIRSA report suggests that the preliminary estimation of the total cropped area is higher than in the 2023-24 season, primarily due to the anticipated reduction in pasture area for sheep production. However, the lack of rain in early June may lead to a substantial reduction in the planted area of some crops, particularly canola.
"Stored soil moisture at the end of summer was variable across the state, as some regions received significantly more rainfall than others between November and January," the report noted. Effective summer weed control has been crucial for conserving soil moisture to benefit the upcoming crops.
Winter rainfall will play a critical role in enabling crop germination and establishment. The report also pointed out that autumn pasture growth has been poor, leading to below-average pasture cover and significant supplementary feeding. Consequently, livestock conditions are below average due to the limited availability of paddock feed.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 3018)
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