TOTAL planted area for Australia’s 2017/18 winter crop is expected to remain on par with last year at just over 22 million hectares, according to Rabobank’s Australian Winter Crop Update.
Rabobank senior grains and oilseeds analyst Cheryl Kalisch Gordon said with many growers across Australia already finished or well over half way through their planting programs and expected to complete them in the first weeks of June, overall total planted hectares were forecast to remain virtually unchanged on the 2016/17 season.
“Wheat planted area is likely to be steady year-on-year, while hectares planted to barley and oats are forecast to down by approximately seven per cent and 11 per cent respectively – the collateral of lower cereal prices,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.
“Despite low wheat prices and the attraction to plant more profitable crops, many growers will be continuing their wheat rotations as planned this season, instead substituting barley and oats planting with more profitable crop types.”
Canola is set for an increase in hectares from 2016/17 off the back of favourable planting conditions and relatively high prices, while pulse plantings will also be up.”
For canola, March rain allowed planting to commence early in some regions, although some early planted canola in Western Australia may need to be re-sown due to dry conditions,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said.
“Canola hectares will increase over the five-year-average in WA, but elsewhere they are returning towards the five-year average.”
For pulses, plantings have again increased this season due to high prices – especially in South Australia, Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Chickpea and lentils will contribute the majority of increased hectares planted to pulses in 2017/18.”
