The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates have projected a drop in Australian wheat production this year.
In 2021-2022, Australia contributed 36.24 million metric tonnes of wheat to the global pool. According to the USDA report, this projection has fallen to 26 million metric tonnes for 2023-2024.
Grain Producers Australia southern director and Rupanyup farmer Andrew Weidemann spoke to The Weekly Times and said the dry conditions in Western Australia and northern NSW during the growing season had affected overall production levels.
He said those two areas could account for the 10MT drop, but there had been areas that were changing focus with crop type as they adapt to seasonal conditions.
“Any production glitches are going to stir up those buyers who can afford to buy grain,” he said.
“Lentils are clearly being taken up as a crop of choice in parts of Victoria."
“It’s quite clear that there has been a lot of acreage in the Mallee that was sown to lentils that might have otherwise been growing wheat or barley.”